Robin Williams is excited to test himself against Italy after kicking off England’s IBSA Blind Football European Championships campaign with a hat-trick in victory over Poland.
England romped to a 7-0 win in the tournament curtain-raiser in Hereford as Roy Turnham opened the scoring, Dan English grabbed two and captain Keryn Seal completed the job late on.
England v Italy
Blind European Championships
Group A
thePoint4, Hereford
7.30pm Sunday 23 August 2015
It represents the perfect start for the hosts but next up they face Italy on Sunday evening and Williams is expecting things to get more difficult.
“There will be much tougher tests to come but it’s nice to get some confidence for the rest of the tournament,” said the hat-trick hero.
“Italy will be well organised and cause us problems so defensively we have to be on our mettle and keep a better shape than we did in the first half today.
“We have won the last three games we have played against them but it will be a tough test. It will also be a test for me to see whereabouts I am.”
Each of Williams’ three goals arrived in the second half, when England cut loose after emerging from the break with a 2-0 advantage.
And the tricky winger, who was part of the GB squad that featured in the London 2012 Paralympics, was doubly delighted with his efforts following a torrid run of injuries.
“It was great to get three goals after being out for a year with various injuries,” he added. “I had a knee operation before Christmas so was out for about four months.
“I came back into training and two weeks back in, I broke three metatarsals in my foot, so was out for another three months.
“I've only been back in training since June, so it was nice to be back on the pitch.”
