Sam Johnstone says hearing the national anthem moments before making his England debut made him “emotional”.
The Baggies No.1 earned his first Three Lions cap in Sunday’s 1-0 UEFA EURO 2020 warm-up win over Romania at the Riverside Stadium, producing a number of eye-catching saves throughout the 90 minutes.
And the 28-year-old, who recently collected a trio of Albion accolades including the Stanley Black & Decker Players’ Player of the Year, Ideal Heating Supporters’ Player of the Year and The Albion Foundation’s PFA Community Champion Award, was understandably delighted to keep a clean sheet on the day he fulfilled a childhood dream.
Sensational, Sam 🤯#ThreeLions | @samjohnstone50 pic.twitter.com/I11HcDLDUC
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) June 6, 2021
Sam said: “It’s such a proud moment.
“I’m so happy to have secured a clean sheet on my debut.
“I got quite emotional when I heard the national anthem and everyone was singing it.
“It was a proud moment for myself, for my family and for everyone who has been with me on this journey since I was about ten years old.
“I’m so pleased we got the win and the clean sheet.
“Thankfully the moment came in the second half where I was able to make the save and it helped me to the clean sheet.
“That save tops off a good day. I just tried my best to play my own game and give it my all.
“It’s something you dream of as a kid, to play for England. It’s happened and nobody can take that away from me now.
“I think it’s great to go into the tournament with a cap under my belt because this is something new to me.
“I’m really happy.”