Alex Scott made his first England start in the 7-0 thrashing of Croatia and said his World Cup heartbreak gave him "more hunger" to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans. The 23-year-old Bournemouth midfielder went to the pre-tournament training camp in Florida but did not get a cap in the friendlies and also missed out on the squad in the summer.
Scott has started the season in brilliant form for his club and made his first start for England in Croatia, having come on as a substitute in the Czech Republic. He now looks made to measure for England's midfield and looked at home straight away even on his full debut.
Scott's hunger after World Cup omission
Scott said: "It gave me more hunger but I've said there's so many top players for this country, it's a tough squad to get into. There was no bad feelings about not going to the World Cup, I went to the prep camp, I wanted to do that and learn as much as I can and it helped me coming into this camp and starting to play games."
"Off the pitch, the stuff that I learned there, being around the group, it's made me feel way more comfortable. It can be challenging but for me it's not been at all. The lads and the group we've got here have made it so comfortable for me."
"Leading up to the game I've been on a few camps now, they make it easy for you and make you feel as comfortable and confident as possible. I just want to go and play my normal football. I spoke to a few of the lads before the game and they said exactly that, 'Go on and do what you do for your club, be confident, be brave'."
Tuchel's praise and midfield partnership
England boss Tuchel has described Scott as the most in-form midfielder in the Premier League and admitted it was tough to leave him out in the summer. But Scott says there was no special advice from the England boss after he did not make the cut - but just to keep pushing.
Scott said: "I wouldn't say he said anything, probably just get your head down and keeping playing as well as possible. I've started the season pretty well with Bournemouth - that was important to me and coming into this team and pushing the lads who have been playing well and have been mainstays in midfield, that was what I wanted to do."
Scott also answered the notion that England do not have midfielders with possession and ball retention in their DNA. He also relished the partnership with Elliot Anderson, who he knows well from England under-21 duty.
Bellingham 'scary' and England's statement win
Scott added: "First start and they don't come much better than that. Seven goals and we were deadly from the off. That front four we've got and players coming off the bench is frightening. It's an honour to be part of that group and be part of this team."
"Me and Elliot work really well together. We saw that last year at the Euros and we've been speaking about it ever since, playing this midfield together. I thought we did really well out there, of course the result probably shows that."
"I love playing with Elliot, he makes life so easy for me as his partner in there. He's probably one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. I think we just bounce off each other very well, we both like getting on the ball, aggressive off the ball, we suit each other the way we play so playing next to him is great for me and I know he enjoys it as well."
"We were ruthless off the ball, our counter press and on the break we scored a few goals and had a few chances. That's what we do really well, the players we've got in this team it suits them really well. We did perfectly and everything came together nicely."
Scott also says that "scary" Jude Bellingham is even better in person. The Real Madrid superstar has been in superb form in the Nations League and could easily become one of England's greatest ever players.
Scott said: "Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. He's even better in person, seeing it up close and being on the same pitch as him... he's the best midfielder in the world, one of the best players in the world for sure and a great human being."
"Everyone knows that - the fans know that, everyone in the world knows what he's like as a person. On the pitch his ability is scary and that's the benchmark we need to live up to."
Scott says England are now clicking and the seven-goal thrashing of Croatia will make the rest of Europe sit up and take notice. He added: "It's hard work, it's the level we've got in our team. The front four were unbelievable and it makes it easy playing behind that. Anthony Gordon is deadly making runs in behind, his pace and ability."
"Jude was everywhere on the pitch, Harry Kane the same and Bukayo Saka was ruthless as well. Playing behind these guys is great for me and Elliot and the backline were excellent with a clean sheet. It feels like the perfect performance."
"I think we've had tough games - Spain was a tough game and we did really well in that one. Unfortunately we didn't get the win. But we beat Czechia and then come here and beat Croatia so we know how good we are and how good we can be so it's important to put these markers down and beat teams like that to scare opposition in the future."
