England comeback motivated me after injury wrecked my World Cup dream, says Ben Chilwell

Dom Smith
·2 min read
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Ben Chilwell has described his return to playing for England as one of the chief driving forces behind his recovery from injury.

First-half goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka ensured England saw off Ukraine on Sunday to remain top of their Euro 2024 qualification group with two wins from two.

The victory backed up their superb win in Naples against Italy on Thursday, when Kane’s penalty winner made him England’s all-time leading scorer with 54 goals.

With Luke Shaw suspended due to his sending off against the Italians, Chelsea defender Chilwell played his first international since a 10-0 win over San Marino in 2021, an absence that included missing the World Cup after picking up a hamstring injury on the eve of the tournament in Qatar.

“It’s been a while since I put the jersey on, so I wanted to make sure I played well,” he said. “It was [the hope of having] moments like putting that shirt on tonight that kept me going.

“To know that the hard work paid off and to get the chance to start again for England, I’m very happy.

“International football is very difficult in its own right. But when you’re playing well for your club, you bring that form into international games.”

Speaking about England’s two wins to begin their Euro 2024 qualification campaign in style, Chilwell said: “It’s literally the perfect start.

“But that’s all it is: a start — and we know that. We’re very happy with how the week’s gone, but it’s two games in. We’ve still got a long way to go.”

Man of the match Saka, began his England career covering for Shaw and Chilwell as a left wing-back in the autumn of 2020, and the Chelsea man is pleased to see him deployed further forward these days.

“I can’t believe he played at left-back when he can do that,” he said about Saka’s stunning goal to make it 2-0 at Wembley.

“He brings happiness to everyone else. He’s always smiling, a good guy to be about, and then comes out onto the pitch and delivers like that. An assist and a goal and ultimately wins us the game tonight.”

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