England star Mason Mount looking to ‘create history’ at Euro 2020 ahead of Croatia clash

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Mason Mount remembers all too well the emotion of watching England crash out of the World Cup in the semi finals in Russia three years ago. Watching from the sofa at his parents’ house, he says he was “close to tears” as Gareth Southgate’s men were denied a trip to the final by Croatia.

Fast forward three years and this time Mount will be no remote, teary spectator when England open their Group D campaign against the same opponents. 

This time Mount will be centre stage and one of the stars of the show as England set out to, in his words, “create history” with a first ever European Championship win.

It has been a phenomenal journey for Mount in the intervening years and one which has gathered pace quickly this season.

There are many illustrations about how far he has come in a short space of time, but perhaps the most apposite of them came in the Champions League this season with his boyhood hero Luka Modric.

In Chelsea’s semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, Mount had asked for Modric’s shirt which he had gladly handed over.

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Eight days later Mount was stunned when Croatia playmaker asked for his at the end of the second leg. It had seemingly not occurred to him his idol he would want his in return.

“He’s always been a player that I’ve looked up to, ever since he was in the Premier League playing for Tottenham, I watched him quite closely as a kid,” said Mount, who will square up to Modric at Wembley tomorrow.

“Playing against him was weird because I’ve watched him so much growing up I kind of knew his moves and what he was going to do. 

“He asked for my shirt after the second game. He came up to me, said he wanted it and wished me good luck in the final. I was quite overwhelmed. It was special.”

Mount, who only made his England debut in late 2019, played a starring role in the Champions League final against Manchester City.

And he is continuing to live the dream this summer arguably as one of Southgate’s key men.

Mount says there is a feeling England may be on the verge of creating something special – “creating history” he called it – and it is emphasised by the fact he intends to keep hold of every single shirt this time.

“We are ready and raring to go,” he said. “The first game at tournament is obviously very important to get off to a good start. We are all so excited and looking forward to it.”

England are the third youngest squad at the European Championship behind Spain and Turkey, and Mount believes that with a rigorous season behind everyone, that will help.

“The Champions League was the 64th game of my season,” said Mount. “But we are young squad. When you are coming into a major tournament playing for your country the tiredness in the legs goes out of the window.

“All we are worrying about is going far in the tournament and performing to the best of your ability.”

He added: “We talk about that fearlessness going into games and that desire to win and we have that in this young group. We are hungry to do well and make the nation proud.”

Southgate’s side are set to kick off their campaign against Croatia at Wembley tomorrow in scorching temperatures with the mercury nudging 28 degrees.

But Mount has allayed fears his team might wilt either in the heat, or under the pressure of the occasion.

Southgate has made sure his side will be prepared for the heat in terms of hydrating the players regularly throughout the match.

Mount said: “We’ve spoken a little bit about it.

“We all have little things we can do to help the situation, but when you’re playing football, when the pressure is on, you’ve got to put that to the back of your mind.

“It will be tough, but we are ready. A lot of the boys have had experience of this, playing in the heat. 

“So I don’t think it will play a part in the game.”

Several of Southgate’s squad have had long and gruelling seasons given they went all the way in either the Champions League or Europa League.

For Chelsea player Mount the Champions League final in Porto was his 64th game of the season.

But he maintained that tiredness will not be an issue for the squad given the excitement and adrenaline coursing through the England camp.  

“We are a young squad that has played a lot of football some of us,” he said.

“But when you are coming into a major tournament all of that goes out of the window – the tiredness in the legs, the long season – you don’t worry about that. 

“All you are worried about is going far, making the nation proud. That is the most important thing.”

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