Theo Walcott seems so desperate to prove himself good and can score for England so that the teenage Arsenal forward had a tug-of-war with James Milner last night, on who will take the penalty for England Under-21 Euro 2009 side’s qualifying stages against Bulgaria.
Walcott showing a masterful second-half display including a fine run which led to the Liverpool’s goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov bringing him down for the decisive penalty. Walcott’s involved in an unseemly episode with Milner when he insists to take the penalty, however, the England coach Stuart Pearce said that Milly was selected to take penalties but credit to Theo.
“The way he was playing tonight I’m not surprised he wanted to put himself up to take it,” he said. “A year he ago he was a bit of an introvert and wouldn’t want to put himself up for that, but now all of a sudden he feels a big part of this team and wants to be a part of that.”
It shows his frustration of not having enough time to play for his Arsenal side, as Wenger was too busy with his foreign squad and keep looking for more non-English players in January transfer window. Wenger has told the media last week that no England player is good enough to be on his Arsenal’s team.
England U-21 goals came in either half from Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner. Agbonlahor headed home Milner’s cross in the 40th minute before Milner capped a dominant display with an 82ndminute penalty to secure a win against a bright Bulgaria side.
Bulgaria player Valeri Domovchiyski, who was being linked for a move to Newcastle United couple days ago, has a shooting chance from a rash pass across England’s own area by Middlesbrough’s Lee Cattermole. Luckily Joe Hart can smothered the ball at his near post.
Pearce’s side will now face Portugal on Tuesday night and a sixth group win in succession would put them within touching distance of a play-off spot.