Euro joy for ex-Pompey schoolboy

Portsmouth's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is celebrating Euro joy after being named in Roy Hodgson's maiden England squad.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th May 2012, 10:00 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:38 BST

The 18-year-old Arsenal winger was yesterday selected in the squad heading to the 2012 European Championship finals.

It was reward for an impressive debut season at Arsenal following a £12m transfer from Southampton.

Nonetheless, it still represented a surprise choice from the newly-appointed England manager.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is the son of former Pompey hero Mark and was born at St Mary’s Hospital.

He grew up in Port Solent and attended St John’s College as well as representing Portsmouth Schools’ under-11s.

Oxlade-Chamberlain said: ‘I would have probably laughed if someone had told me I would be in Euro 2012, a year ago.

‘Obviously you would like to think that and it is what you aim towards, but sometimes you have to be realistic and realise it might take a little bit longer than that.’