Harrison Miles enjoying 'experience of a lifetime' at U17 World Cup

Looking back at that opening match with Venezuela, how do you reflect on the game?

It was obviously disappointing to lose the first game - the first game is always important, but I think there are definitely positives that we’ve taken away. Losing 3-0 wasn’t ideal, and in tournament football you’ve got to win to progress, but we’ve definitely taken away positives in the way we played, especially in the first 30 minutes. We felt we were on top of the game until they scored, we created five or six chances, so we know going into the next game that we’ve got to be more ruthless and put the chances away. Other than the result, I think the opener was a good way to understand how things within the tournament were going to run.

We were really unlucky not to take the lead, and that changes the game really?

I think conceding two goals, especially just before half time, downed the mood slightly but we went into the second half thinking, one of these chances has to amount to something. I think we had the belief that if we scored the next goal, we could have gone and taken the game to them. In the second half, we struggled to get at them, but switching that, the result has now given us more drive and ambition to go into our next two games. The attacking threat we have in this team is unmatchable, and if we’re ruthless and play as a team, we can really show what we have to offer.

Your family were at the first game - how did it feel seeing them? Did it give you a lift after the match?

When I know my family are there, I always try and spot them in the stands to give them a wave. If I don’t see them, I’m thinking about where they are but as soon as I do see them it gives me a calm feeling and makes me ready to go and play the game. Getting to spend a bit of time when them after the match was lovely, it’s good to have the support and have the support from all the families here. We had a really good following, and you could feel the support on the pitch which gives us boys the extra push.

It's a quick turnaround now to Haiti, and another chance to get ourselves up and running?

We know that we've got to take the game to them, and we've got to start off really well and continue to be playing as a team. We know that Haiti is going to be a tough side but we know that we’ve just got to focus on our game plan, what we’re going to do and getting the three points.

You're approaching a week here in Qatar now, is everyone settled in?

Everyone has settled in really well – all the boys have gelled a lot as a team over the last few days which has been really nice. Obviously, everyone already knew each other from being together previously so there’s definitely a sense of family within camp. We’ve also got a good setup in the hotel – everyone’s always doing stuff with each other so there’s a really nice mix. When we get some downtime, we try and make the most of that. We’re very aware that our relationship off the pitch is going to help us on the pitch, so we’re putting a lot of time into it.

What’s been your personal highlight so far?

Just being at the World Cup is an experience of a lifetime, so I’m making sure I’m present and taking every day as it comes. My goal is to be in the starting eleven and to have an influence on the team in the way that we play and hopefully help us progress through the tournament. My main highlight was probably getting the call up - my mum actually got the call up before me! She messaged me and then I gave her a call. Hearing the news that I made the squad was massive for me personally, because it was my goal to get here. Missing out on the U17 EUROs in the spring due to coming back from an injury was tough, so it makes being here an even bigger achievement.

Can you sense a bit of World Cup fever around the place now the tournament has kicked in?

Definitely – after the first game, I think that everyone is in that tournament vibe, everyone's very focused in the camp and that’s definitely one thing that’s going to help us. Going to the Aspire Zone for the first time and stepping off the bus made it all sink in. It’s the whole experience, you walk in, you see the set-up, all the different nations playing, who we could be playing further down the line, and you think ‘we’re at the World Cup’. The whole complex looks amazing.