Ramsdale has yet to play a single minute at Euro 2024 but he’s still living a dream.

Aaron Ramsdale has once again earned the respect of many after he gave his candid thoughts on being England’s number two ahead of the Euro 2024 final.

The 26-year-old, who struggled for regular first-team minutes at Arsenal last season, was named in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad alongside fellow goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson.

After falling down the pecking order in North London following the summer arrival of David Raya, it was clear that Ramsdale would be second-choice, despite being handed a start in their friendly clash against Iceland.

In his own words, it has been a tough year for the goalkeeper, who recently opened up about his situation. But being with the England squad this summer has been an incredibly positive experience.

“It was tough [being on the bench for Arsenal], it was tough. But I have my release now, I’m now here,” he said. “I’ve got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest. If I play a minute or no minutes, it will be the pinnacle for me.”

Ramsdale went one step further ahead of Sunday’s final against Spain, when he gave his take on being England’s number two behind the ever-reliable Jordan Pickford, who has impressed at Euro 2024.

He said: “Out of a population in England of 60 million or whatever it is, I’m living all of their dreams. And then there is one man living my dream on the pitch, and that one person is doing a hell of a job.”

Here’s how fans on social media have reacted to Ramsdale’s comments.

One said: “One thing you can’t deny Southgate has build an incredible unity within the squad,” while another commented: “He is an excellent human being.”

A third wrote: “Seems like a nice fella. He will naturally be envious but he genuinely seems made up for Pickford.”

A fourth said: “This is brilliantly put,” while a fifth added: “Aaron Ramsdale is a class act.”

Image credit: Getty

Ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, Ramsdale urged the prime minister to declare a week-long national holiday if England brought it home.

Speaking on YouTube channel That’s Football, he said: “It has got to be a national holiday hasn’t it… for a week, because nobody is working.”

 

According to the BBC, a 2010 House of Commons library report put the bill for an extra bank holiday at an eye-watering £2.9 billion.

The Bank of England and Office of Budget Responsibility have also argued that it negatively impacts growth but let’s be honest, it would be all worth it.