Skip to content

England's Andros Townsend happy to silence critics with equaliser in Italy

Andros Townsend scores for England against Italy
Image: Andros Townsend scores for England against Italy

Andros Townsend was delighted to repay Roy Hodgson's faith with the equalising goal as England drew in Italy on Tuesday.

The Tottenham winger scored from long range shortly after coming off the bench in Turin, his third long-distance goal in seven international appearances cancelling out Graziano Pelle's first-half header.

Townsend has started just nine times in this season's Premier League and was replaced after just half an hour of Spurs' recent defeat at Manchester United, but he has remained a regular in Hodgson's squad.

The manager praised England's goalscorer for producing "something special", and Townsend told Sky Sports News HQ it was satisfying to prove his enduring worth.

"It was really nice," he said. "It's no secret there's been criticism of my call-up to squad - as usual - but every time I've put on an England shirt I've always done myself justice.

"That's my third goal in seven caps and it was really important to come on and silence a few critics. I've done that, and I'm proud of my personal performance.

"I've been thinking about (the criticism) all week - I was desperate to get on that pitch and silence a few critics, and as soon as the goal went in I was thinking about all the people saying I should be nowhere near the squad.

More from Italy V England

"Hopefully that can keep them quiet for a few months, and hopefully they can realise the quality I bring to this England squad."

Towsend also took to Twitter to after the match and posted a message directed at former England player Paul Merson: "Not bad for a player that should be 'nowhere near the squad' ay".

The Tweet was in response to comments from Merson who, writing in his Sky Sports column, had said: "I am not having a go at Townsend because he has done well for England, but if you're not playing well for your club then, in my day, you had no chance of playing for your country, absoutley zilch."

That's my third goal in seven caps and it was really important to come on and silence a few critics.
Andros Townsend

The Twitter debate continued when Jamie Carragher suggested Townsend should let his boots do the talking: "Andros Townsend tonight on Twitter is taking Paul Merson to task on his opinions......his goal tonight was the answer not Twitter".

Townsend's contribution upstaged team-mate Harry Kane, who was unable to add to Friday's debut goal on his first start, but the Spurs striker was happy with his night's work.

He tweeted: "Proud night making my first start for England! Great experience for me and one I can only learn from! Hopefully more to come."

Kane and the rest of the England squad will not return from Turin until midday on Tuesday after a problem with their plane forced a change to their travel plans.

A flight late on Tuesday ahd been scheduled, but Hodgson said: "We only know it's a technical issue. That is all we know, so that has put the flight tonight out of the question. We hope to leave relatively early in the morning."

Around Sky