Superstition paved the way
Theo Walcott contemplated changing his boots at half-time last night, one of the studs having disintegrated during the first period, only for superstition to get the better of him. "There was no way I was going to change them," he said, and the pair that had yielded his first goal at this level duly helped him to become England's youngest ever hat-trick scorer. "The stud had basically just fallen to pieces. That's why I finished the third goal with my left."
This will be a night that will stay with the youngster forever. His father witnessed him run riot in person, sitting incredulous and welling up with pride in the stands. The winger might have expected a bit-part role in Fabio Capello's first competitive fixtures but he returns to Arsenal with his reputation as his country's brightest young prospect re-established.
Capello and England expect more to come from this talent. This was the first competitive hat-trick by an England player since Michael Owen in Munich seven years ago. The implications for the Newcastle striker, not deemed fit enough to be in this squad, may be far-reaching, although Walcott conceded he has plenty still to learn.
"I've got to take my chances. I tend to cross when I get into those situations, which I did when Frank [Lampard] played a great ball to me in the first half when I should have shot. At half-time David Beckham said to me, 'Be a bit more greedy and you'll get goals', but at the end he said maybe I'd been a bit too greedy. He's been absolutely brilliant to me, which is great."
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