Ben Gibson: 'I was immensely proud of our fans for the support they showed England Under-21s'

Playing for England Under-21s at the Riverside Stadium was a dream come true for Ben Gibson.

The Boro defender helped Gareth Southgate’s side beat Germany 3-2 on Monday night, playing the first 77 minutes before making way for Michael Keane.

The Middlesbrough-born 22-year-old’s performance was witnessed by a bumper 30,178 crowd, including family and friends.

Looking back on a night to remember, he said: “It was a dream come true and such a proud occasion for me and my family not just to play for my country but to do it on my home ground was such a fantastic day and an amazing experience.

"It was nice seeing my friends and family in the stands before the game but once the game kicked off my mind was on the game.”

Gibson, who missed Friday’s friendly in the Czech Republic due to a tight hamstring, was told in the run-up to the game that he would be starting on Monday night.

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“The gaffer told me earlier in the week,” he explained. “He told me not to worry because I’d missed a few days’ training as a precaution so I was expecting to start and I was looking forward to starting and I could focus on it.”

Naturally, Gibson’s name received the loudest cheer of the night when the teams were read out ahead of kick-off.

All-in-all, it turned out to be a night to remember.

“It was obviously a lot different to a Boro game,” he said.

“To start with the reception for me when I first came out was phenomenal at the start of the game.

“I can’t thank them enough for that and it felt as though it was a real good day for the area because a 30,000 crowd on a cold night, it shows how much the fans love their football here.

“It could have easily been a game that filtered into oblivion with not many fans here but the fans got right behind the team, they backed us and I’m immensely proud of our town for doing that.”

Doug Moody/The Gazette

Ben Gibson in action for England Under-21s at the Riverside

England twice came from behind to overcome a talented Germany side.

Philipp Hofmann twice put the visitors into the lead but Jesse Lingard and Nathan Redmond equalised for the Three Lions before captain James Ward-Prowse netted the winner in the 82nd minute.

“It was a high standard of football, two good football teams wanting to pass the ball,” said Gibson.

“It was quite tactical at first as we tried to suss each other out and we weren’t happy with the way we started but we ultimately bounced back well and got the win.”

The victories over the Czechs, who will host the 2015 Under-21 European Championships, and the Germans, will give England a boost ahead of this summer’s tournament.

“We want to go to the tournament knowing we can beat these teams, basically,” said Gibson.

“We’ve done that. We beat Croatia in the play-offs, we beat Portugal, we’re trying to give ourselves markers.

"These are only friendlies but it’s given us a belief that we know we can do well in the summer and if the players don’t believe that now they never will so know we’re going there full of confidence.”