Smithies ‘buzzing’ as Brazil beaten

Aug 27 2007 by Dougie Thomson, Hudd Main

TOWN Academy goalkeeper Alex Smithies said he was “buzzing” after helping England get the better of Brazil at the World Under 17 Cup.

A 2-1 win clinched by a last-gasp goal from West Ham’s Jordan Spence in South Korea meant the young lions topped Group B at the expense of the South Americans, who had scored 13 goals in their previous games against New Zealand and North Korea.

They are through to the last 16 and play for a place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Smithies, 17, was beaten by a long-range Tales free-kick, but then saved a 79th-minute penalty from Lulinha to keep the scores at 1-1.

“When Jordan scored the winner I was running around celebrating by myself. I wanted to do a cartwheel. It was the best feeling ever, knowing we have beaten Brazil and won the group,” said Smithies, who has played all three group games.

Of the free-kick which beat him, Smithies, who has been with Town since the age of nine and is in his second and final year as an Academy scholar, explained: “I was anticipating a cross. It caught me in two minds, I was not sure whether to go for it or not. In the end it sailed over my head.

“I was gutted about the goal, but I knew I could not think about it. I had to get on with it as I knew I could still play a big part in the game.”

England equalised when Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury netted a penalty just before half-time – then Smithies got his chance to deny Brazil from the spot.

He added: “I have saved five penalties in 13 games for England. I am quite confident on penalties and I thought I was going to save it.”

Smithies has his own spot-kick ritual, pointing to where he thinks the penalty-taker is going to shoot the ball.

“I pointed to the left – I don’t know whether it’s mind games or not,” he said.

“Perhaps it’s offputting. It’s like what (Jerzy) Dudek did for Liverpool in the Champions League final (of 2005). I have done it before and it’s worked.

“I was delighted when I saved it. I have seen the highlights, and I was celebrating before the ball had been kicked out. I was ecstatic. It felt like I made up for the first goal. I’m buzzing.”