Redknapp excited for future

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp was particularly impressed with the new kids on the block as he watched the 1-0 win over Croatia from the stands. 

Redknapp won 17 caps for England during his career and was part of the UEFA EURO 1996 squad that made it to the semi-finals. 

Since then he’s gone on to enjoy an illustrious career in the media but incredibly was at Wembley Stadium connected by EE purely as a fan for the very first time on Sunday alongside his son, Beau. 

And the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur man liked what he saw, especially in the middle of the park as Kalvin Phillips turned in a man of the match performance and Jude Bellingham became the youngest player ever to represent England at a major tournament. 

“I was watching Kalvin warm up before the game and the way he strikes the ball is so effortless, he just caresses the ball and not many players can do it,” said Redknapp, on the Official England Podcast. 

“It shows you how much the manager likes Jude Bellingham as well to bring him on for ten minutes in a game of that magnitude. He’s got everything that boy and it’s limitless what he can achieve.

“I know what It’ll be like in the place now, they’ll be having such a laugh now and they won’t want to leave the dinner table because everyone will be chatting because there’s a real togetherness there.”

It was Phillips who provided the pass for Raheem Sterling to score his first goal at a major tournament and send the Redknapps wild in celebration. 

“To have that moment when Raheem scored and my little boy grabbed me and we just cuddled and we were up cheering, there’s not many better things than that,” he said. 

“It’s our country and we’re so proud when our team does well but when it comes together, there’s nothing better than the England fans getting behind their team.”

It’s Scotland up next for Gareth Southgate’s side, an opponent that Redknapp knows well having played against them twice, including on that memorable day back in ‘96. 

“When I think about the great games I played in, Liverpool v Manchester United and Tottenham v Arsenal - there’s nothing like England v Scotland. 

“It actually makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up thinking about it now. It’s only good when you win it though and Steve Clarke has got a system and some good players.”