Exclusive: Jack Wilshere Talks England Memories and Euro 2016 Hopes

Jack Wilshere was a key figure in setting the tone for a perfect Euro 2016 qualifying record for England.

Now, as the Three Lions prepare to take their good form into the tournament, the Arsenal midfielder is keen to show he can return to his best form and help the side live up to their billing as one of the favourites.

Before heading to France, Wilshere visited NikeTown in London to speak about his hopes...

Bleacher Report: Jack, it must be a great feeling to have made it to France? Are you fit and feeling good?

Jack Wilshere: It really is. If I wasn't fit enough, I wouldn't be here. So I am ready for this experience, and hopefully we can do something at the tournament.

B/R: You got man of the match six times in qualifiers, is that what you are trying to get back to?

JW: Yeah. Just before I got my injury, I was playing some of the best football of my career. I'd been out for a while before that as well so it shows me that I can come back from these things to play at a very good level.

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B/R: What is the best thing that you bring to this England team?

JW: I am the type of player who likes to play the ball forward and in midfield, that makes a difference. If you beat a man in midfield, then you are straight on to the defence and that's important.

At this tournament, I think teams will sit in against us, so you have to be able to break them down.

B/R: The Wales game really is something that people are looking forward to...

JW: I can't wait for that game, either. We have to focus on Russia and beat them first, but we all know the Wales game is the one fans are most looking forward to.

As players, we know a lot of their team, and they will definitely be up for it—so we have to be as well.

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B/R: What is your first memory of the European Championship?

JW: I remember Wayne Rooney's first time in the tournament—Euro 2004 in Portugal. I had an England shirt with his name on the back actually…I think my dad still has it!

B/R: You have 31 caps at the age of 24, you must be happy with that?

JW: Every cap you get for England is an honour. I am happy with that, but it’s also been frustrating to have missed games through injury.

It's been a challenging period for me, but now that I am fit again, I am looking forward. I want to get to 100 caps for my country.

B/R: What's been your England highlight so far?

JW: Probably the two goals I got against Slovenia. As a kid, you grow up dreaming about scoring, so when you do, it is a great buzz. That's the bar I set for myself now.

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B/R: Roy Hodgson seems to have complete faith in you...

JW: We have a good relationship, and when I was injured, we would speak a lot. I like that in a manager. He knows how to develop his players. He has been loyal to me, and all I can do is pay him back with performances.

B/R: What do you make of your roles in this England midfield?

JW: After the last World Cup, we lost Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard who were big players for us, big names. I think people thought we might fade away, but in our first game against Switzerland away, we went and won 2-0 when we were being written off.

I was playing a new position and I felt I grew into that. From there, qualification got better and better. We have done a really good job over the past two years of rebuilding and are in a really good place now.

Jack Wilshere wears England's new 2016 kit, built for speed with revolutionary Nike Aeroswift innovation. #SparkBrilliance