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Page last updated at 10:38 GMT, Friday, 25 June 2010 11:38 UK

World Cup 2010: Redknapp backing England to shine

Jermain Defoe

Defoe puts England ahead against Slovenia

Tottenham manager and BBC pundit Harry Redknapp has five players in England's World Cup squad - Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Peter Crouch, Ledley King and Michael Dawson.

Here, he tells BBC Sport why Defoe can help England progress in the tournament, gives his theory why Lennon is yet to shine and explains why he thinks England will beat Germany to reach the quarter-finals.


I was surprised to see England coach Fabio Capello pick Jermain Defoe to play up front with Wayne Rooney in their final World Cup Group C game against Slovenia - but it was not a shock for me to see Defoe get the winner.

Jermain Defoe and Harry Redknapp
Redknapp has managed Defoe at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham

I did not think Jermain would start because he and Wayne Rooney have not done well up front together in the past. I actually thought Capello would go with Peter Crouch and Rooney, but the manager got it right.

Apart from his goal, I do not think we saw that much of Jermain but that does not matter if he keeps finding the net. He is not going to do a lot in the build-up and he is not going to hold the ball up for you either but give him a chance and he will score.

He only needed one opportunity on Wednesday. He made a great run to get on the end of a super cross from James Milner and did what he has been doing since I signed him for West Ham as a 16-year-old. He was finishing like that week in, week out even then. That was him at his best.

I have not spoken to Jermain yet since the Slovenia game but I will call him ahead of Sunday to say 'well done' and 'good luck'.

Harry Redknapp

Can Jermain be England's hero again in their second-round match against Germany on Sunday? Yes. He is a fantastic finisher, a goalscorer and a predator - the best we have got.

I am delighted for him. I have not spoken to him yet since the Slovenia game but I will call him ahead of Sunday to say 'well done' and 'good luck'.

It is nice to see so many players I know involved for England. As well as the Tottenham lads, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick - all three of whom I had as young players at West Ham - are in South Africa. For them to be at a World Cup is fantastic.

Cole has not really featured yet while Carrick, like Ledley King, has been injured.

Because of his knee problems, Ledley is more susceptible to knocks but I do not think it was a mistake by Capello to take him. He coped well with a busy period for Spurs at the end of last season and I thought he would get through this World Cup, too. He has just been unlucky with the groin injury he has picked up.

Aaron Lennon, another of my Tottenham players, is not having a great tournament and I'm not sure why. Like Rooney, he had an injury at the end of last season and has not really hit form since coming back.

Defoe undeterred by route to final

Aaron played the last few games of the Premier League season but was not 100% fit and was really just finding his feet. He did not come back with all guns blazing and do what we know he can do.

I know Aaron very well. He will not sulk after being dropped in favour of James Milner for the game against Slovenia. He knows he can still have a big part to play in this World Cup. This is a squad game and, if he gets called upon with 10 minutes to go, then his pace can still win us a game.

One piece of magic from him can change a game so he is invaluable, even if he starts matches on the bench.

Aaron was not the only England player to struggle during their first two group games. The whole team got a lot of stick after the Algeria match but to suggest they do not care enough is wrong.

PHIL MCNULTY BLOG

They may be well-paid footballers but they were all kids who dreamed of playing at a World Cup and I know this means everything to them. They care massively, maybe too much. Nerves might have got the better of them in England's first couple of games because of the weight of expectancy on their shoulders.

The pressure should have been relieved by beating Slovenia. That was our best performance so far. Now we face the Germans - and what a fantastic game that will be.

Franz Beckenbauer, Germany's legendary former captain and manager, has called us a 'kick and rush' side. I would pin up those comments in the dressing room before kick-off for every England player to see.

Franz was a great player, a fantastic manager and a lovely guy but I do not agree with his opinion. Capello and his players won't either and will get great motivation from it.

I am sure we will win anyway. Germany beat an ageing Australia side in their first game but lost to Serbia before overcoming Ghana in a pretty even final group game. I do not think it is the best German side we have seen, that is for sure, and I do not see why we cannot beat them. I am pretty confident.

Let's be honest, England haven't played well and Slovenia were not up to much - they would be in the bottom half of the Championship at best - but our players have not set the tournament alight yet and they will raise their game for the big games that are coming up, starting on Sunday.

Harry Redknapp was talking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan



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see also
Defoe undeterred by route to final
24 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
England ramp up penalty practice
25 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Germany fret over Schweinsteiger
24 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Coach Loew wary of England test
23 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Lahm expecting World Cup classic
24 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
England spirit delights Capello
23 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Beckenbauer sorry for England dig
25 Jun 10 |  World Cup 2010
Team tracker and Predictor
27 May 10 |  World Cup 2010
World Cup venues
05 Dec 09 |  World Cup 2010


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