After a dramatic last-minute equalizer and a win that secured England’s spot in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, midfielder Jude Bellingham took aim at the team’s critics.
Bellingham, now playing for Real Madrid, scored a spectacular overhead kick in the 95th minute against Slovakia, forcing the game into extra time where England secured a 2-1 victory.
“There’s a lot of pressure playing for England,” Bellingham said. “You hear a lot of nonsense out there. So it’s nice to be able to deliver and shut them up a bit.”
England’s performance throughout the group stage had been met with criticism, despite topping their group. Their wins and draws against Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia were deemed unconvincing.
Bellingham acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with constant scrutiny. “It’s tough to be completely open in interviews because everything gets judged,” he said.
His goal celebration, where he held his arms wide and seemingly mouthed “Who else?”, appeared to be a direct message to the critics. “Scoring goals and celebrating is my release,” he explained. “Maybe it was a message for a few people.”
Bellingham emphasized the emotional rollercoaster of international knockout football. “The feeling of almost going out is horrible,” he said. “You feel like you’ve let everyone down. But one kick can change everything.”
Earlier, Harry Kane had called on former England players turned pundits to be more understanding. Bellingham echoed that sentiment. “You know what I mean by the rubbish,” he said. “We work hard, and it hurts to hear criticism. But moments like this make it all worthwhile.”
