Euro 2024: Former Chelsea, Man City and Brighton star Discusses England’s Chances and Lewis Dunk with Henry Bryant

SussexWorld

England legend Wayne Bridge speaks about the Three Lions at the Euros  and more with Journalist Henry Bryant

Transcript

00:00First and foremost, how are you? How you been? How's life treating you at the moment?

00:05Yeah, good. Can't complain really. Yeah, just a bit of training. I'm struggling at the moment.

00:12Played a UEFA Legends five-a-side game and my knees can't handle it anymore,

00:17even though my mind wants to, my body can't.

00:19You're over 2024 now and you're an ambassador.

00:23What do you think about England's chances on actually winning the competition?

00:27Is it going to come home this time?

00:29We say it every year. You've just got to say it and believe it.

00:33Mate, there's a massive chance. If you look at the talent they've got, it's exciting.

00:39I'd say the only thing they're probably missing is at the back.

00:44I don't feel like we've got a back line, or probably the centre-backs,

00:49where they've been as solid as some of the pairings we've had before in the past.

00:55But the rest of the team, I think it's great. That's no disrespect to the players that are there.

01:00If you look at the players that have played there before, I think they're more solid.

01:03I've had this discussion where, can you play one holding midfielder

01:07and two further up in the likes of Jude and Foden?

01:12But that's having a lot of trust in everyone at the back.

01:15I feel like if you had some of the centre-backs that you've had in the past,

01:18I think that would be an easy decision that you can do it.

01:21Last time out, that heartbreak, where were you? Were you watching it? Were you working?

01:26I was at home, actually. We had a load of friends over, all the kids there.

01:32We actually had a little sweepstake for it, and my son had Italy.

01:39So he won, but he was buzzing. Then everyone was giving him stick, and then there was tears.

01:44I was just gutted, to be honest. I thought we started really well, got the goal,

01:48and I just think we didn't really carry on the way we were playing.

01:51It went a bit negative, I thought.

01:53But Italy are a very intelligent team, they always have been.

01:56So it's never going to be easy, but I think that is definitely a chance missed.

02:00Absolutely. Moving on from that, I know that you were talking about the back line.

02:04You've played with Louis Dunne before, all the way back in the 2012 season.

02:09Do you think if he gets some game time, he'll be able to do something for England?

02:13Obviously, there's been a few difficulties with him at the back in previous fixtures,

02:17and he was highlighted in a few goals conceded, especially against Belgium.

02:21Do you think that he could be important if we were to go further in the competition?

02:27I think all the players are important, to be honest.

02:30I know they might not feel it. I've been before, I've sat on the bench,

02:33but if Ashley was to come off, I'd have to come on.

02:37It never happened, but I got a few minutes game time at the World Cup and Euros.

02:45It's one of those things, you just have to stay ready, and a lot of people won't get it.

02:51It is tough mentally as a player, because all you want to do is go and play football.

02:55He's just got to stay ready. I'm just buzzing for him, to be fair.

02:59I saw him at the last England game, the kids got to meet him.

03:02I was just buzzing, because he definitely had some talent,

03:06and he's gone on to show that he's got a lot to give.

03:12Fingers crossed for him that he will get some game time and do well.

03:16Staying on the topic of Brighton, you had about 37 appearances for the Albion in the 2012-13 season.

03:23I remember fondly cheering you on down the wing.

03:26That was my first season to get older there, and I'm still there, absolutely loving it.

03:31What do you remember most fondly about Brighton, and did you enjoy it there?

03:35I loved it there. I had a tough time at City with Mancini.

03:39To get out and get down there, I don't think a lot of the players knew what to expect.

03:46I got a bit of stick, but I got on really well with all of them, to be honest.

03:50I slotted in really well. It was a great bunch of lads.

03:53The manager was great to me, the fans were great.

03:56I honestly just really enjoyed playing football.

03:59It was one of those things when I was at City and I got stuck training with the kids.

04:04Probably mentally, I look at some of the players now, how mature they are for his age.

04:11I could have dealt with things a little bit better.

04:14Going down to Brighton, I just loved football again.

04:18I just loved playing and I wanted to play.

04:21I just really enjoyed it, mate.

04:23They were a great bunch of lads, like I said before.

04:25The manager was good to me.

04:28The only disappointment I have down there is just not going up, really.

04:32We just threw it away against Palace.

04:33I think we fought in the first game.

04:35We should have come away with a win.

04:38Sadly enough, we didn't go up.

04:41I look back at Brighton as one of my favourite times in my career.

04:44Definitely up there with one of my favourite teams.

04:47Although Saints fans won't want to hear that!

04:50Did you think they were going to reach those levels that we're seeing now?

04:54Going to the Europa League and going into the knockout stages and reaching those heights?

05:00Not really.

05:02I don't ever look too far ahead, to be honest.

05:04If I said yes, then I'd probably be lying.

05:07I'm just buzzing for them, to be honest.

05:11There was a player, Lampsey, they took from Chelsea.

05:13I thought he was a quality player.

05:16I remember saying to my agent, you need to sign him.

05:18He was a great player.

05:19I was buzzing for him to go there and do really well.

05:22Like I said, I loved my time down there.

05:25I really enjoyed it.

05:27They were really good to me from fans.

05:29Everyone, backroom staff, a lot of them.

05:32I loved it down there and I'm just buzzing to see him do so well.

05:36If someone was to turn around to you and say,

05:38you can write any name on this contract, we can get you at that club,

05:42and you've never played for them before, who would that be and why?

05:45I guess if I had to pick one now, it'd probably be just to play under Pep at City.

05:51Just because I'd like to know what he does.

05:54I'd like to know if he would improve me.

05:57Or if he'd just say, no, you're not meant for us, see you later.

06:00That's probably the only person I'd pick now.

06:03I played for the team I always wanted to, which was St Ampton, to be honest.

06:08I know that changes as you grow up, but I'd love to play under Pep.

06:12That's a fair, solid option.

06:14My final question to you, I mentioned it previously,

06:17but he's still playing football and he's still skinning people on the pitch,

06:21even if that's five a side.

06:23I'm definitely not skinning people.

06:25My knees have definitely given up on me.

06:27I played in the UEFA Legends game the other day, five a side.

06:31Lots of Cafu, Carlos, David Silva, Joe Cole, Essien, McAlealy.

06:36I was all right for probably the first 20 minutes.

06:41I felt pretty good, but then the break, we had a 45-minute break to the final,

06:46and my knees just seized up and I couldn't move.

06:49For the last four days, I've been walking up and down the stairs sideways.

06:53That just comes part and parcel with the game sometimes.

06:55Some people have a lot of wear and tear and some people can get away with it.

06:59Wayne, it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much.

07:01Cheers, mate. Thank you.

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