“I think if anything it just gives you another challenge to just to prove people (wrong)”, he said ahead of Saturday’s Group B opener against Russian Federation.
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Individual errors in the warm-up friendlies against Turkey and Australia highlighted that issues still needed ironing out, although Smalling pointed to the nation’s long-standing qualities of being “tactically aware and solid”.
“There’s not too much to say, I think you’ll see a few players carrying it around during the course of the tournament, that’s all I’m going to say”, he said.
“You always learn from every game, whether it be a red card, or do play quite a good game, you are always picking up things and making sure you always learn from them”.
Roy Hodgson’s selection has prompted concerns his side will be short at the back if one of those options was to pick up an injury, but Smalling insists there are enough back-up options in the squad. He is a big guy and it will be a physical battle. “I think he’s close, so fingers crossed”, Smalling said.
The former Fulham player is rooming beside his 18-year-old United team-mate Marcus Rashford at England’s team hotel and he said that the young striker had been quick to find his feet. “Being able to bring the ball down on his chest – we have to stop that. As defenders in the Premier League we are used to big guys and those challenges, and it’s something we enjoy as centre-backs”.
“It’s one of those situations when there may be someone else who can come in and do the job better – it’s time to stand up and be counted”.
“Our central defenders will have to be very physical and aggressive against him”.
The centre-back is smart enough to know he can not play exactly the same as in the Premier League, though.
Smalling said: “We have been watching videos”.
“I think a factor in the Premier League is that you maybe do one or two fouls before a booking comes, where now they may clamp down sooner, tiny little things like that”.
The bruising 27-year-old target man scored 27 goals in 42 games for club and country next season, but Smalling will relish the tussle with him.
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Stones’ career has been played out on fast forward thus far, but he now finds himself having to wait for a chance.
