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