Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic 800m champion, has publicly expressed her support for the England football team as they prepare for a World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina. The 24-year-old middle-distance runner took to Instagram on Sunday, a day after England's 2-1 victory over Norway, to post a selfie wearing an England kit, showcasing her toned midriff and red bottoms.
Hodgkinson's Rise to Stardom
Hodgkinson first rose to prominence at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the 800m event. She then went on to capture gold in the same event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her status as a world champion is something the Three Lions hope to replicate this summer, and they have the backing of Hodgkinson as they aim for a first World Cup final appearance since 1966.
England's Path to the Semi-Finals
England secured their place in the final four with a 2-1 victory over Norway, thanks to a brace from Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder became only the fifth player ever to score in back-to-back knockout games in the summer tournament. Bellingham's performance was praised, but controversy ensued when he appeared to dismiss manager Thomas Tuchel's complaints that England made numerous errors and were fortunate to win.
Bellingham's Response to Tuchel's Comments
When asked to respond to Tuchel's post-game remarks, a noticeably miffed Bellingham said: "Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever. It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who were out there and put in a great shift yet again." In another interview, he added: "Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play against. So, I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment. You’re not going to win every game, popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we’ve done that again tonight."
Hodgkinson's Support
Hodgkinson shared the snap on her Instagram story, making it available to all 630,000 of her followers. She will be among the millions cheering on Thomas Tuchel's side against Argentina on Wednesday. A win against the reigning world champions would mark England's first World Cup final appearance since their 1966 triumph.
