Former England number one Joe Hart has waded into the debate surrounding Argentina's equaliser against England, questioning Jude Bellingham's reaction to Enzo Fernandez's goal and defending Jordan Pickford.
Hart's emotional response to Bellingham's gesticulation
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Hart detailed his discomfort with Bellingham's behaviour after the goal. The Real Madrid star appeared to complain 'it's the middle of the goal' while gesticulating to the crowd after watching replays of the strike in Atlanta.
Hart said: 'When someone starts going like this to the crowd, red mist. I'll fight anyone. Because that's not a team-mate in my opinion. I did not love what happened there.'
He added: 'I get it's emotional and I get Jude wears his heart on his sleeve, but when it comes to moments like that, I'd rather one of my own team-mates stand over me and say, "save the f*** ball", than gesticulate to the crowd.'
Defending Pickford's positioning
The long-range effort was the first of a late double blow that saw England knocked out of the World Cup after entering the final stages of their semi-final with holders Argentina ahead through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute effort. The goal sparked ferocious debate about Pickford's positioning.
Hart pointed out there were 'five, six or seven bodies' blocking Pickford's view, and that the Everton goalkeeper had little time to react given England appeared set to deal with a cross from Lionel Messi, who instead pulled it back to Fernandez.
'That made my chest tight after the game. I'm with Jude for the cavalier way he brings it on, but you can't have 11 of those in your team, and I've said that… I would have struggled with that,' Hart said.
Pickford's tournament achievements
Pickford finishes the tournament as a bronze medallist and England's all-time leading appearance maker at World Cup finals. He was rested for the 6-4 third-place win against France, in which Bellingham scored his seventh goal of the tournament. Pickford will now take a break before returning to Everton next month ahead of the Premier League season.
