Parker rules out Spain approach
June 20, 2012 15:18:20 UK
Midfielder Scott Parker says England will not try to emulate Spain as they bid to progress further at Euro 2012, having set up a quarter-final clash with Italy.
The Three Lions and their followers had low expectations ahead of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, but manager Roy Hodgson guided them safely through the group stages with two wins and a draw.
We're committed, we've got a good base, a good bunch of lads and with that you can go a long way.
Scott Parker
England are now 1213.00 to win the title for the first time, while Italy are 2.50, with defending champions Spain 1.57.
Spain, who also won the World Cup two years ago, are seen by many observers as the team to emulate, but Parker says that England must forge their own path.
He told TheFA.com: "Everyone talks about Spain and how great they are at passing the ball. Not every team is as good as Spain, that's the reality.
"There's not many teams who have been as good as Spain since I've been alive. To think we are all of a sudden going to turn into that is not what it's going to be.
"We are what we are, we're committed, we've got a good base, a good bunch of lads and with that you can go a long way."
To reach the semi-finals for the first time since Euro 96 on home soil, England must defeat an Azzurri outfit they have met just once in European Championship finals before.
A group game in 1980 ended in a 1-0 win for Italy in Turin, with Marco Tardelli netting the only goal of the game for the tournament hosts.
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