Steven Gerrard tells a story in his first autobiography, published in 2006, that illustrates just what an overwhelming experience it can be for a young player to join up with his country for the first time.
Gerrard was 19 when Kevin Keegan selected him to train with England for the friendly against Argentina in February 2000. By then the midfielder was an established member of Liverpool’s team but he still felt incredibly anxious about properly meeting the likes of Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and David Beckham, so much so that having pulled up at Burnham Beeches, England’s training base, Gerrard immediately went up to his hotel room and refused to come down. “I phoned Jamie Redknapp, who was with the squad,” the now 38-year-old wrote in his book. “‘Jamie,’ I pleaded, ‘I’m upstairs shitting myself. Come and get me, please’.”
Written by Sachin Nakrani
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/24/callum-hudson-odoi-unfazed-england-euro-2020-qualifying under the title “Callum Hudson-Odoi unfazed at making big step up for England”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
