#1301: What Football Is Saying After Alex Scott's Impressive England Debut

For Alex Scott, earning his first England cap was the fulfilment of a childhood dream - but also the latest chapter in a journey that began a long way from the international stage. The AFC Bournemouth midfielder last night came off the bench to make his senior England debut, becoming the latest milestone in a career that has taken him from playing football in Guernsey and non-league football to the Premier League and now international football.

It was a journey reflected upon by the Daily Echo’s Alexander Smith, who highlighted just how much work had gone into reaching this point.

"Hopefully Scott will have time to reflect on the journey to reach this point", Smith wrote, noting that his rise had taken him "from non-league to the Premier League and now international football."

And after the final whistle, the 23-year-old admitted that the significance of the moment had not been lost on him.

"I'll always, always remember this place now," Scott told BBC Radio 5 Live. "England debut, you know, it's what sports dreams are made of."

Scott revealed that, as recently as his teenage years, playing for England did not feel like a realistic possibility.

"Something that probably when I was younger and maybe even 15, 16 wasn't a reality at all," he said. "So I've worked really hard, and yeah, it's a proud moment for me, of course, and now my family as well."

Of course, there had been a degree of patience required to reach the moment, as Scott had already been involved in previous England squads, including camps last November and during the summer, but had been forced to wait for his opportunity on the pitch.

Looking back, he admitted that he did not believe he was ready when he first joined up with the senior squad.

"I think my first camp last November, I probably wasn't ready to play," Scott told ITV's Gabriel Clarke. "I think I felt it was a massive step for me. But I learned a lot off the pitch, on the pitch, in training, and yeah, I felt more ready in the summer. I'm definitely ready now."

When Thomas Tuchel finally beckoned him towards the pitch, there were no nerves.

"I couldn't wait," Scott told 5 Live. "I had no nerves at all, really."

In fact, Scott joked that he was more nervous about addressing his England team-mates afterwards than actually making his debut. However, before his address to his fellow Three Lions, Marc Guehi gave a tribute of his own...

"We all know how hard it is just to get here," Guehi told him. "It's just a testament to Alex's hard work, but also your family and everyone involved in your life. What a great guy you are, and a fantastic player," Guehi added. "We know you're going to get a lot more."

Scott responded by telling the changing room that the moment was a "massive" one for both himself and his family: "Growing up, it's always a dream, you know, to play for your country, and to make that a reality today was amazing," he said. "I played with a lot of you boys in the youth teams, and yeah, playing for your country is the biggest honour."

On the pitch, he looked to play the same football that has become familiar to Bournemouth supporters, and Bristol City supporters before that - taking the ball, driving forward and attempting to make things happen.

There was even an opportunity for a memorable debut goal when Scott carried the ball forward before curling an effort narrowly wide.

"You only make your England debut once, so I didn't want to just keep it safe and keep passing it around. I wanted to get on the ball and show what I can do, and you know, that's the strength of mine, is dribbling and then breaking lines with a dribble."

That willingness to be himself was also recognised by former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on 5 Live: "He didn't look out of place," he said. "He fit it in."

Robinson highlighted Scott's willingness to carry the ball forward, including that particular run from inside his own half which almost resulted in a goal.

"He took it from inside his own half, played a lovely one-two, got to the edge of the box, curled one just wide at the top left-hand corner."

For Scott, though, the occasion was about far more than his own performance, as behind the pride was an emotional personal tribute, as he revealed that his grandfather had passed away just a week before his England debut.

"He was the proudest man," Scott said. "He came to all my matches, well, whenever he could, and yeah, he was my biggest fan. It's a shame he didn't see it, but yeah, he would have been looking down, and I'm proud of that one."

His England cap - number 1301 - will therefore carry a significance beyond simply marking his debut - "I'll remember that forever," Scott said.

There was also praise from two of the ITV pundits, as Ian Wright recalled watching Scott during his time at Bristol City and said he had been impressed by the qualities that remained evident on his international debut: "He hasn't changed in the way he's played, he's just got even more efficient with what he's doing," Wright said.

The former Arsenal striker believes England need players capable of carrying the ball and creating opportunities.

"I think we do need that player who's got the capability of getting the ball and running with the ball, creating, and getting in the box and making things happen."

Roy Keane was similarly positive about Scott's first appearance.

"Great night from him," Keane said. "Lots of potential there. And obviously well-deserved, of course. He should be very proud of himself."

For Bournemouth supporters, there is something particularly satisfying about the journey - with only Lewis Cook and Callum Wilson being the only previous Cherries to have adorned the England shirt before him. Scott's first England cap did not arrive after an overnight transformation or a straightforward route through the country's biggest academies - it came after years of travelling from Guernsey, making sacrifices with his family, developing through the academy system, experiencing non-league football and eventually establishing himself in the Premier League.

For someone growing up in the Channel Islands, simply committing to academy football was a significant undertaking. Scott and his now-Lionesses stepsister Maya Le Tissier would travel regularly with their parents to pursue their footballing ambitions, and that commitment has now taken Scott all the way to a international football.

And now, he has an England cap to show for it.