Fikayo Tomori admits his England call-up was “a dream” after a whirlwind 12 months for the Chelsea defender.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Canada and represented them at under-20 level, spent last season on loan at Sky Bet Championship side Derby but has established himself in Frank Lampard’s team this term.
That has earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euro 2020 qualification double-header against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Tomori, who was picked along with in-form Blues team-mate Tammy Abraham, told a press conference: “I’ve taken everything as it has come.
“This happened quite fast and quickly, but it’s been a good 12 months. I’ve been working hard, listening to people, trying to improve myself and it’s going well.
1/24 England XI and squad for Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate has the most exciting front line of a generation but has decisions to make in defence and midfield
PA
2/24 Bench – Nick Pope
The Burnley goalkeeper is an excellent shot-stopper and a very competent backup to Pickford.
Getty Images
3/24 Bench – Tom Heaton
Another extremely good shot-stopper, Heaton would also be a reliable option to call upon if injuries struck.
Action Images via Reuters
4/24 Bench – Kyle Walker
Walker’s pace is his best asset, but he has proved at Man City that he is capable of playing in a technical set up. His attributes over that of Aaron Wan-Bissaka are more suited to Southgate’s style of play.
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Bench – Joe Gomez
Gomez has been very unlucky with injury, and needs a run of games to remind people that he is a very good centre-back. He is capable of defending, reading the game and at playing out from the back.
AFP/Getty Images
6/24 Bench – James Tarkowski
His clubmate Ben Mee has somehow alluded an international call up, but Tarkowski is a very talented defender who delivers a 7/10 minimum in almost every game.
Action Images via Reuters
7/24 Bench – James Tarkowski
Chilwell is still developing as a left-back at Leicester and is good, without excelling, both defensively and offensively.
REUTERS
8/24 Bench – Declan Rice
Rice is another who’s enjoyed a quick rise to the England squad, and is a promising ball-winning midfielder. Without having top-level experience it is hard to argue for him to start over Henderson.
Action Images via Reuters
9/24 Bench – Mason Mount
Mount, despite his age, has demonstrated his game-changing ability and possesses excellent decision-making ability that earmarks him ahead of more experienced midfielders.
REUTERS
10/24 Bench – James Maddison
Maddison perhaps operates best as a no.10, a position Southgate has not really used. However, his playmaking and set-piece abilities are a valuable weapon off of the bench despite not yet being capped.
REUTERS
11/24 Bench – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Another who needs to prove his fitness to remind people of his talent, Oxlade-Chamberlain is quick, can beat a man, and is capable of playing most midfield positions.
Getty Images
12/24 Bench – Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi has displayed a lot of ability in his short career at club and international level, and is another who is an excellent option to have from the bench.
Action Images via Reuters
13/24 Bench – Marcus Rashford
Rashford’s role in this squad is to provide coverage across the front line, and his pace and attacking versatility could prove very valuable later in the tournament.
Getty Images
14/24 GK – Jordan Pickford
Pickford has not quite progressed at the rate many thought he would when he first signed for Everton, but he remains a good stopper and his distribution is a useful tool for Southgate.
EPA
15/24 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
Although he is less defensively capable than his right-back contemporaries, Alexander-Arnold’s technical and set-piece abilities are a weapon that England should look to exploit.
REUTERS
16/24 CB – Harry Maguire
Despite giving away a penalty against Kosovo, Maguire is the most ‘solid’ out of England’s centre-backs and his aerial presence in both boxes can be game-changing.
Action Images via Reuters
17/24 CB – John Stones
Centre-back has been England’s Achilles heel for several years, with all of the candidates looking error-prone at times. Stones has experience and ball-playing ability on his side, which suits Southgate’s style of play.
PA
18/24 LB – Danny Rose
Rose gets the nod over Ben Chilwell because he is slightly more athletic and defensively capable and has the advantage of playing for a top club, making him more suited to the intensity of tournament football.
Getty Images
19/24 DM – Jordan Henderson
Although he has box-to-box capabilities, Henderson’s ability to sit back and allow other players to be more creative is invaluable and his contributions often go undervalued.
Action Images via Reuters
20/24 CM – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Despite being currently injured, Loftus-Cheek at his peak is a devastating midfielder and has a fantastic talent for carrying the ball between the lines. Having said that, he must get fit and start regularly for Chelsea soon.
REUTERS
21/24 CM – Dele Alli
When England (hopefully) advance to the latter stages, they are likely to line up more defensively, but the dual threat of Alli and Loftus-Cheek in the final third could be very potent for the Three Lions.
Getty
22/24 LW – Raheem Sterling
Sterling has been in world-class form for the last two seasons and is one of the first names on the teamsheet. Playing in his favoured position on the left allows him to replicate his phenomenal performances for Manchester City.
EPA
23/24 RW – Jadon Sancho
Sancho is another who possesses frightening natural ability, but is equally capable of coming inside and playing quick passes as he is beating someone for pace and driving in a cross and should be a sure starter next summer.
Getty
24/24 ST – Harry Kane
Captain Kane is England’s only striker who plays at a high level for club, with Marcus Rashford preferred out wide for United. Kane has already demonstrated his scoring potential at a major tournament…
Getty
1/24 England XI and squad for Euro 2020
Gareth Southgate has the most exciting front line of a generation but has decisions to make in defence and midfield
PA
2/24 Bench – Nick Pope
The Burnley goalkeeper is an excellent shot-stopper and a very competent backup to Pickford.
Getty Images
3/24 Bench – Tom Heaton
Another extremely good shot-stopper, Heaton would also be a reliable option to call upon if injuries struck.
Action Images via Reuters
4/24 Bench – Kyle Walker
Walker’s pace is his best asset, but he has proved at Man City that he is capable of playing in a technical set up. His attributes over that of Aaron Wan-Bissaka are more suited to Southgate’s style of play.
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Bench – Joe Gomez
Gomez has been very unlucky with injury, and needs a run of games to remind people that he is a very good centre-back. He is capable of defending, reading the game and at playing out from the back.
AFP/Getty Images
6/24 Bench – James Tarkowski
His clubmate Ben Mee has somehow alluded an international call up, but Tarkowski is a very talented defender who delivers a 7/10 minimum in almost every game.
Action Images via Reuters
7/24 Bench – James Tarkowski
Chilwell is still developing as a left-back at Leicester and is good, without excelling, both defensively and offensively.
REUTERS
8/24 Bench – Declan Rice
Rice is another who’s enjoyed a quick rise to the England squad, and is a promising ball-winning midfielder. Without having top-level experience it is hard to argue for him to start over Henderson.
Action Images via Reuters
9/24 Bench – Mason Mount
Mount, despite his age, has demonstrated his game-changing ability and possesses excellent decision-making ability that earmarks him ahead of more experienced midfielders.
REUTERS
10/24 Bench – James Maddison
Maddison perhaps operates best as a no.10, a position Southgate has not really used. However, his playmaking and set-piece abilities are a valuable weapon off of the bench despite not yet being capped.
REUTERS
11/24 Bench – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Another who needs to prove his fitness to remind people of his talent, Oxlade-Chamberlain is quick, can beat a man, and is capable of playing most midfield positions.
Getty Images
12/24 Bench – Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi has displayed a lot of ability in his short career at club and international level, and is another who is an excellent option to have from the bench.
Action Images via Reuters
13/24 Bench – Marcus Rashford
Rashford’s role in this squad is to provide coverage across the front line, and his pace and attacking versatility could prove very valuable later in the tournament.
Getty Images
14/24 GK – Jordan Pickford
Pickford has not quite progressed at the rate many thought he would when he first signed for Everton, but he remains a good stopper and his distribution is a useful tool for Southgate.
EPA
15/24 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
Although he is less defensively capable than his right-back contemporaries, Alexander-Arnold’s technical and set-piece abilities are a weapon that England should look to exploit.
REUTERS
16/24 CB – Harry Maguire
Despite giving away a penalty against Kosovo, Maguire is the most ‘solid’ out of England’s centre-backs and his aerial presence in both boxes can be game-changing.
Action Images via Reuters
17/24 CB – John Stones
Centre-back has been England’s Achilles heel for several years, with all of the candidates looking error-prone at times. Stones has experience and ball-playing ability on his side, which suits Southgate’s style of play.
PA
18/24 LB – Danny Rose
Rose gets the nod over Ben Chilwell because he is slightly more athletic and defensively capable and has the advantage of playing for a top club, making him more suited to the intensity of tournament football.
Getty Images
19/24 DM – Jordan Henderson
Although he has box-to-box capabilities, Henderson’s ability to sit back and allow other players to be more creative is invaluable and his contributions often go undervalued.
Action Images via Reuters
20/24 CM – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Despite being currently injured, Loftus-Cheek at his peak is a devastating midfielder and has a fantastic talent for carrying the ball between the lines. Having said that, he must get fit and start regularly for Chelsea soon.
REUTERS
21/24 CM – Dele Alli
When England (hopefully) advance to the latter stages, they are likely to line up more defensively, but the dual threat of Alli and Loftus-Cheek in the final third could be very potent for the Three Lions.
Getty
22/24 LW – Raheem Sterling
Sterling has been in world-class form for the last two seasons and is one of the first names on the teamsheet. Playing in his favoured position on the left allows him to replicate his phenomenal performances for Manchester City.
EPA
23/24 RW – Jadon Sancho
Sancho is another who possesses frightening natural ability, but is equally capable of coming inside and playing quick passes as he is beating someone for pace and driving in a cross and should be a sure starter next summer.
Getty
24/24 ST – Harry Kane
Captain Kane is England’s only striker who plays at a high level for club, with Marcus Rashford preferred out wide for United. Kane has already demonstrated his scoring potential at a major tournament…
Getty
“It’s a bit cliched but it is a dream (to be called up). Growing up in England and seeing the players playing at Wembley, it was such a good feeling.
“It’s indescribable. I tried to take it in as much as possible, but it was a very proud moment.
“I found out after the Lille game (in the Champions League). The manager came up to me and said ‘you are going to be in the England squad tomorrow’.
“I was sitting down at the time and I just sat there with Tammy and Mason (Mount) smiling at me. It was a crazy feeling because I wasn’t really expecting it, but I’m very happy.”
Tomori, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, wants to represent England.
He added: “The call-up solidifies that. Being eligible to play for three countries was a good thing and a bad thing.
“I have just taken everything as it has come and once I got that call-up to England, there wasn’t really a doubt in my mind that I was going to commit.
“Being here now I just want to try and get my first cap and then try and get more after that as well.”
Tomori was on holiday with Abraham in Marbella during the early stages of last summer’s World Cup and the pair followed England’s progress keenly.
“We watched their first game on holiday and we watched the penalty shootout against Colombia together as well,” he said.
“Of course I’m an England fan. I grew up here and went to school here. To be part of this is a dream.”
