As England prepares to face Italy on Monday in a Euro 2024 qualifier that will determine their place in next year’s competition, Kieran Trippier has pointed out a key player to the possibility of England winning the championships in Germany next year.

England needs just a victory against Italy to seal their qualification to Euro 2024 after losing the final of the last tournament to Italy on penalties in 2021 at Wembley Stadium. The Newcastle United fullback has surprisingly not pointed to any of the players who featured in the last edition but rather a midfielder who is making waves for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga this season.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but he has already scored ten goals in ten games in all competitions, boosting Real Madrid’s start to the season, which sees them top of La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Newcastle fullback Trippier, who played for Atletico Madrid between 2019-2022, said that the midfielder plays with a maturity and experience at Real Madrid that is frightening.

“With the maturity, quality, and aggression he’s got, he’s frightening. If you play well there in Madrid, the fans will love you. It’s no surprise to me how he’s started there because Jude is frightening. Jude did unbelievably at Dortmund. He’s taken that experience with him. You see, he’s playing with freedom, and the players around him are going to make his standards get even better. The most scary thing is he’s only 20 years old. He can be the difference.” Trippier said.

He went on to say that the whole team, from 2018 to now, has taken massive steps even though they lost in the Euros final, but the most important thing is there is progress, and they are doing very well.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu