James conceded a penalty after rushing out to stop Nicolas Anelka which Franck Ribery tucked away, and the morning press put the boot in with headlines like "James a Joke", "Daveja Vu" and "Calamity".

But Redknapp hit back at the criticism and said: "Don't try to tell me he's not the best goalkeeper in the country by a million miles."

Redknapp did not even watch the match on television, let alone travel to France, even though Pompey's Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe were also in manager Fabio Capello's squad with James, 37.

He went to Fulham's Craven Cottage instead to watch Pompey's domestically-suspended midfielder Sulley Muntari play for Ghana against Mexico but revealed: "I watched the French team's goal on the TV sports news. I've not read anything yet.

"I don't know whether England tried to play offside, but from what I saw (Nicolas) Anelka went though, Jamo came out and I don't think there was even a challenge because Anelka was very quick.

"Jamo realised he'd got to the ball first and just put his hands down and they collided, but Anelka had already nicked the ball past him and it was a penalty. I don't know what Jamo did wrong. Nothing, possibly. That's football.

"But for some to suggest it might have been a red card as well is just bull.

"He (James) has come into train today along with our other internationals apart from Niko (Kranjcar) and done a full session. He'll just move on now and wait to see what England do next.

"For me he's still the best 'keeper in the country by a million miles, a great signing. He's given away a penalty but what about England not scoring any goals? That must have had something to do with the defeat.

"For me the most important thing is that Jamo and the others all keep playing well for us. I want them to play for England because he and they deserve to but that's as far as I'm involved."