"If you play that badly for England you HAVE to accept the criticism!" ⚽ Jermain Defoe | Up Front

On today’s episode, we are joined by one of the most clinical finishers to ever grace the Premier League.

Tottenham favourite Jermain Defoe is one of the top 10 goal scorers in Premier League history and has represented England 57 times, featuring and scoring in major tournaments, before crowning his illustrious career by helping Rangers to bring the Scottish title back to Ibrox for the first time in a decade.

Jermain sits down with Simon to talk about his England career and give his honest opinion on the current England squad, focusing on their performances at the Euros and the criticism they’ve faced. He also opens up about his special relationship with young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery before discussing his future in the game.

Despite his illustrious career and his experience as a coach in the Tottenham academy, Jermain has struggled to enter the world of management, experiencing resistance and rejection along the way. He joins the show to discuss his future prospects and the difficult journey black former players experience when swapping the pitch for the dugout.

Join Simon for this insightful conversation with Jermain Defoe.

Subscribe for future episodes.

18+ please gamble responsibly.

00:00 Introduction to Jermain Defoe
01:01 Jermain’s journey to becoming a footballer
04:57 Jermain’s England career
9:55 England under Gareth Southgate / Euro 2024
18:39 England players reaction to the criticism
24:26 What is success for England in Euro 2024
26:26 Bradley Lowery
34:56 Looking back at his career
37:51 What’s next for Jermain?
39:25 The lack of opportunities for black former players experience in management
50:22 The perception of Jermain Defoe