Being a part of the national team is a dream come true.

When I wear the national team shirt, its sole contact with my skin makes it stand on an end.

I am a believer in passing the ball on the ground, I was lucky to be part of teams like that at Arsenal, with the French national team and with Monaco and at Barcelona. I know you can win in other ways, but I believe that is the way football should be played.

I went to see England against Switzerland at Wembley with my dad and brother, too. That was in 2008, Fabio Capello’s first game in charge. Jermaine Jenas scored, and we won 2-1. I remember the national anthem was incredible. I sang it with pride – always do.

I’d love to be captain of Tottenham and hopefully England as well.

It has been tough when I have been with the national team and we have gone to play in some of the poorer areas in Brazil. You see people come and watch us train or play a match, and then you know some of them are going home with no food on the plate.

The dream of every kid is to play for the country, and I am no different.

I always look forward to playing for my national team, especially at a major tournament