Source: team_talk
Redmond hails 'positive experience'
Nathan Redmond says his England Under-21s experience in Israel has been positive, despite their failure to reach the semi-finals.
The Birmingham winger started both of the Young Lions' Group A defeats to Italy and Norway, but back-to-back defeats mean they will be on the first available flight home after facing the hosts in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.
Speaking to Sky Sports News Radio after the 3-1 defeat to the Norwegians in Petah Tikva - a match in which England U21s enjoyed 69% of possession - Redmond said: "I'm just disappointed. I felt we dominated the game but never punished them."
Redmond was a late call-up to Stuart Pearce's squad after Callum McManaman had to withdraw through injury. Like most of his England U21 squad colleagues, he saw considerable action in the Championship last season and he admits the standard of the football in the European U21 Championship has surprised him slightly.
"I knew as I got into it, I would adjust," he added. "The lads have all made me feel welcome. At the club, I'm playing regular first-team football so it's not much of a jump, but the quality is a bit different."
Redmond was one of England's better performers against Italy and he believes he will benefit in the long term from being a part of this squad, even though they are the first team to learn they cannot progress to the last four.
"This has been a positive experience but I really wanted to be a part of something that was looking to go on and do really well in this tournament," said Redmond. "I know that the track record for the Under-21s in the two years leading up to this has been unreal. They've played really well, they've barely conceded, and they've scored lots of goals.
"The standard of players here have helped me up my game and given me positivity but in all, right after the game, I've got those after-thoughts where I'm just disappointed for the lads."
