Harry Redknapp believes Spain will be “scared to death” at the thought of facing England star Jude Bellingham in the Euro 2024 final.
Gareth Southgate’s England faces Luis de la Fuente’s Spain in Sunday’s Euros final after victories over the Netherlands and France in the semi-finals.
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Spain are favorites to win their fourth European championship and secure their first major trophy since 2012, following a flawless run to the final.
La Roja topped Group B with nine points, defeated Georgia in the last-16, and eliminated hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
In their semi-final against World Cup finalists France, Spain fell behind but teenage sensation Lamine Yamal helped turn the game around, securing a place in their third European Championship final since 2008.
England’s path to the final was less smooth, with Southgate’s side winning only one of their group games and enduring three tense knockout matches.
The Three Lions needed injury-time brilliance from Bellingham to avoid an embarrassing exit against Slovakia, then beat Switzerland on penalties in a tight quarter-final match.
Their semi-final with the Netherlands seemed destined for extra time until Ollie Watkins scored a last-minute winner, booking England into back-to-back Euros finals.
Despite England’s rocky Euro 2024 campaign, former Premier League manager Redknapp is “convinced” football’s coming home and says Spain will be “worried” and “scared to death” of Bellingham’s threat.
The 21-year-old entered the Euros as the La Liga Player of the Year, having scored 23 goals and helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and league title in his first season at the Bernabeu.
“I’m convinced England will do it,” Redknapp told The Sun. “I’ve said all along that this is our time, so there’s no way I’ll be going back on my prediction.
“Not because it’s written in the stars, not because the draw has been kind, and not because we’ve ridden our luck on more than one occasion in these Euros.
“All that’s helped, for sure, but not the reason I’m so confident. It’s because I look at the two teams and just think, man for man, we are stronger than Spain.
“Yes, I know they’ve been the most impressive team at the tournament but let’s be honest, we’re not talking all-time greats like some of the sides of old.
“The two young Spanish wingers are fantastic players, especially the kid Lamine Yamal. We certainly need to keep him quiet.
“I tell you something, though – England have a hell of a lot more for them to be worried about, trust me. Like Jude Bellingham, for a start.
“In Madrid they won’t be thinking of a man who’s only been at his best in flashes but the outstanding star of La Liga who took Spain by storm.
“They’ll be scared to death of facing him, while Jude will be full of confidence at what he can do to them.”
