Jude Bellingham has revealed that things were not right off the pitch in England’s camp at Euro 2024. Despite reaching the final, where they were beaten by Spain, Gareth Southgate’s side were far from convincing during their run in Germany.
Off-pitch issues
Speaking from inside England’s camp in Kansas City, Bellingham said the group did not connect as well as it could have. “At the Euros I think we got a few things wrong off the pitch, I don’t feel the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons,” he told the Lion’s Den. “When it came to the tournament, we were seen as one of two or three teams that could win it. We weren’t playing well, which doesn’t help, so even when we were winning, we didn’t get the feeling that we were as happy as we should be.”
Memorable but uncomfortable goal
England needed Bellingham’s last-minute overhead kick to force extra time against Slovakia in the last 16, penalties to beat Switzerland in the quarter-finals, and a last-minute goal to get past the Netherlands in the semi-finals. Bellingham’s intervention was one of England’s most memorable tournament moments, but he says the shine is taken off by the circumstances. “I still remember how I was feeling at the time. It always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable because it was such a bad situation,” he said. “We weren’t playing well. I remember as a kid watching World Cups and Euros where we crashed out against teams we shouldn’t have gone out to and I remember thinking: ‘Wow, I’m about to be a part of one of those moments.’ It shakes up the whole of English football.”
Fight for the No 10 shirt
Bellingham faces a fight for a starting role in England’s World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel appears to have pitted him against Morgan Rogers in a straight shootout for the No 10 position. The pair have a close relationship, having grown up in the same area in the West Midlands and played junior football together. Bellingham, who advanced his case with a display in Wednesday’s final warm-up win against Costa Rica, said there were no problems between them. “He is a top guy, he can get along with anyone, can have conversations with anyone,” Bellingham said. “He can be a bit loud. We have debates that turn into arguments a lot. But we get on like brothers, to be fair. The manager has made it very clear that we are playing for the same position. I know that has eased up a bit now that he sees me playing more positions and Morgs playing more positions, but I honestly have no ill feelings when he is playing and I’m not playing.”
