The goal was fired past the Montenegro goalkeeper in a style we had almost forgotten from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Instant control, unerring execution, as he sent a bullet of a shot into the far corner giving the goalkeeper no chance.
It was, though, actually Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fifth goal in his last six matches for club and country, as Liverpool have nursed their former Arsenal forward back to health carefully after the horrible knee injury he suffered in the Champions League semi-final against Roma in April 2018.
That meant 16 months out of action, and it was eighteen in the international wilderness, having to sit and watch Liverpool’s Champions League triumph last June, as well as the 2018 World Cup. In fact, it was his first goal since scoring against Scotland in June 2017.
But it was not just the goal, England’s crucial first against an admittedly hapless Montenegro, on Thursday night. It was Oxlade-Chamberlain’s all-round performance; his clever runs, his tackling back, his willingness to get into the box. Gareth Southgate now has another option in his attacking armoury – but the Liverpool man believes he is only just getting started.
And, reckons Oxlade-Chamberlain, England intend to make the Euro 2020 finals next summer, where thanks to Thursday night’s win they will now have three group games at Wembley, special. Just as they did in their triumphant 1966 World Cup campaign, and in 1996, when Terry Venables’ side reached the European Championship semi-finals.
England, Oxlade-Chamberlain promised, intend to make next summer as glorious as 2018, as 1996 – and even, hopefully, 1966.
He said: “Thursday was a special night for the nation with it being the 1000th England game. But then to get a goal and to win like we did was just great.
“I am feeling confident. I haven’t played a lot in terms of starting, but I’m getting there and building that up.
“I am on the way, and it is nice. I still have more to come but to be producing goals and moments to help the team, that is obviously a bonus and something I have always wanted to do more in my game.
“It is nice that I am getting results on that front – but there is more to come. Time will tell. I have got to keep working hard and producing.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain was actually called up by Southgate for the win against Bulgaria at Wembley at the beginning of September, and made his comeback as a substitute – but was then left out of the squad for the games against the Czech Republic and the return against the Bulgarians last month.
The 26 year old said: “It is always hard to miss out because I believe I have got the ability to be part of the squad and help the team. But I understood why he left me out. He wanted to get me back in and around to show I was still part of his plans, but realistically I wasn’t in a position to start.
“But I have made steps forward since then. Thursday night was the icing on the cake. In a way it feels like a new start for me.
“I have been around for a while but had a lot of injuries that have kept me out of big games and tournaments. But I feel I can fit into this attacking unit now.”
The Group A dead rubber against Kosovo now follows on Sunday in Pristina – but Oxlade-Chamberlain believes that next summer now promises to be something else.
He pledged: “We have at least three games at Wembley – and hopefully we will go on to have more.
“It is a special occasion for any team to have home games in a big tournament. We will need the crowd to play their part. Judging from the World Cup, where I was at home and could see what it meant to everyone and how fanatical everyone was, I am sure they will.
”It is up to us to make it special for them and the whole country again.”
