JADON SANCHO is relishing the chance to bring his cage football skills to the Euros.
The winger left Ukraine players for dead during England’s stunning 4-0 quarter-final win, bringing a little bit of South London to Rome.
Sancho, born and raised in the tough suburb of Kennington, learned to play football as a kid on the streets and at the nearby Frederick’s Adventure Playground.
And yesterday, after his dazzling display in the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night, Manchester United’s new £73million signing from Borussia Dortmund admitted: “I’ve never changed. In the cages it was about nutmegging and taking people on.
“I’ve always tried, when I get in one-on-one situations on the pitch, to do the things I used to do in the cages.
“There could be a situation with three men around you and you do one mad skill to beat all three. The cage skills are tight skills.”
Sancho has never forgotten his roots and teamed up with England sponsors Nike two years ago to build a pitch for the kids in his community.
Sancho’s own JS initials are etched in the centre circle and around the edges of the distinctive black and orange turf in the colours of Lambeth Tigers, a club committed to helping underprivileged kids access football.
At its unveiling Sancho said: “Growing up in Kennington has made me the man I am today. I owe a lot to South London for nurturing the way I play.
“I hope the local kids feel empowered to tell their own stories through football and follow in my footsteps — this pitch being just the ignition point.”
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Sancho first turned up at Frederick’s aged six — and stood out.
Social worker and football coach Norman Dawkins said: “He used to ‘nuts’ people, you’d just hear the kids going: ‘Wooaahhh, how did you do that?’
“He did it against older boys, too. He played against men; he was that good.
“Everybody wanted to be on his side. There would always be a bunch of kids following him around, he would go out jogging and they would run after him!”
Peter LeAndre, who worked with Norman, was another of Sancho’s early victims. He said: “He had that ability. He was doing little tricks at that time, trying to nutmeg me and other players.
“I used to play at Luton, so I know how to play, but he was doing things to me I had never seen. It was like he had elastic bands on his feet. It was quite ridiculous. The kid was unique.”
Sancho added: “Growing up with street football, you’re just different. Now people are looking up to me in my own area. It’s a fantastic feeling.”
The midfielder was delighted to start his first game at the Euros in the same week that his long-awaited move to Old Trafford was agreed.
But the 21-year-old star is thinking only of England, not his new club.
He said: “It’s been quite a week, yeah, definitely. To be fair, I don’t want to talk about Manchester United. Right now I just want to focus on England.
“I’m feeling over the moon. It was a must-win game and I’m just happy to have got an opportunity to play.
“My family will be proud of me and I’m just happy all the coaching staff gave me the opportunity to play tonight.
“It’s always frustrating not to be in the starting XI but I knew my chance would come, so in training I’ve just given it everything.
“It’s something that I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid, especially putting on the shirt for my family. To be representing England in a major tournament is a dream come true.”
And Sancho is living that dream with Jude Bellingham, 18, his former team-mate at Dortmund who came on in the second half against Ukraine.
Sancho added: “The sky’s the limit for the guy. He’s a great footballer. He’s very mature for his age. When I was his age, I was not that mature, I was childish.”
Yet Sancho is up against Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden for a starting spot on the right flank in Wednesday’s semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.
Sancho said: “We’re going to give everything and hopefully we’re going to get to the final for you guys.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
