COOK’S TROPHY GLITTER
Winner Lewis wants more
LEWIS COOK says becoming England’s first World Cup winning captain since Bobby Moore has fuelled his thirst for more trophies.
Bournemouth midfielder Cook led the Under-20s to glory in June, lifting the trophy after beating Venezuela in the final.
Now part of the Under-21 squad for tonight’s European Championship qualifier against Latvia, Cook said: “It was a massive occasion and something I will never forget.
“It just made me want more. It’s going to be hard to top that but it made me want to lift more trophies.
“I can look back and smile and be really proud, and take the positives into the next chapter.
“I was there for a long time and everything we did in the year building up to it was for that moment.
“Although it was a tough ask to win it, we knew we could. We stuck to our guns and got there in the end.”
On following in the footsteps of 1966 legend Moore, Cook said: “It was crazy.
“Growing up, I never thought I’d get to the point where my name was in the same sentence, so that was a really proud moment. And I’m only 20.”
Cook won his first Under-21 cap in last week’s draw with Holland and is looking forward to playing for his country in front of his home fans at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “Every time you play for England it’s a huge opportunity and an honour but there is the added factor of this game being in front of the Bournemouth fans.”
Boss Aidy Boothroyd has challenged his men to stake their claim for a place in Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.
He said: “If the team is playing well regularly and winning then if Gareth needs to look down and see what’s available, he’s got a good choice.
“Last year, James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond jumped from the 21s.
“Nathaniel Chalobah was the one we knew in the summer was going to be the next one in so it’s good Gareth has picked him.”