As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Everton boss Martinez: Fans can be proud of youthful England squad

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is delighted with the make-up of England coach Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad.

Hodgson's squad has a significant youthful element to it with Ross Barkley joined by Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, 18, Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling, 19, and 20-year-old Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Martinez said: "My message to every English fan and supporter in general is that we should embrace the younger generation - and it is phenomenal to have that - who have been called up by the England manager.

"But we have to understand we carry a responsibility of allowing the young players to have a positive experience, whatever that is.

"Then we can allow them to grow and put them in a position where they have (played) 300 to 400 games and can then be tested and pushed to see if they can win a World Cup.

"At the moment it is making sure they are protected in their environment, are allowed to enjoy their football and whatever they bring to the occasion is going to be a great learning curve for the future.

"Like any job in any line of work you are better by the experience you get and it is having the opportunity to make mistakes and grow and just become better out of that.

"Whatever they bring to this World Cup is a bonus. We should be looking further ahead to see the results of these youngsters.

"Experience in a World Cup has to be a positive one whatever the results are.

"But it is something we do quite often - we build the expectations and then lose the opportunity of fulfilling that potential and having a special player for the future.

"We are not the only ones, there are many nations who build expectations so quickly and then put them on young shoulders and that is unfair.

"There is not a written rule of what you should do. You should allow them to enjoy the experience, whatever it is, and then set the next target for them and continually evaluate them and give them an area to improve and focus on."

 For the big stories and the banter follow us on Twitter: @tribalfootball

Video of the day:

About the author

Tribal Football Staff

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free