Jude Bellingham has disclosed that there were significant off-field issues within England’s squad during Euro 2024. Although the team advanced to the final, ultimately losing to Spain, their performance throughout the tournament was less than convincing.
At present, Thomas Tuchel has emphasized the importance of fostering a sense of “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,” within his squad as they aim for World Cup success this summer. Bellingham, currently in England’s camp in Kansas City, reflected that this camaraderie was missing during the European Championship two years prior.
“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.” he shared with the Lion’s Den. “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. “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.”
During the knockout stages, England required Bellingham’s dramatic last-minute overhead kick to secure extra time against Slovakia in the round of 16, prevailed over Switzerland in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, and managed a last-second goal to defeat the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
Bellingham’s overhead kick against Slovakia remains a standout moment in England’s tournament history. However, he expressed that the circumstances surrounding the goal dampened its significance. “He is a top guy, he can get along with anyone, can have conversations with anyone,” he remarked.
“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 in a lot of the times where he has spoken that we are playing for the same position. I know that has eased up a bit more 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.”
As England prepares for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday, Bellingham finds himself in a competitive battle for a starting position. Tuchel seems to have placed him in direct competition with Morgan Rogers for the No 10 role. The two share a close bond, having grown up in the same West Midlands area and played youth football together.
Bellingham boosted his chances of securing the starting shirt with a strong performance in Wednesday’s final warm-up match against Costa Rica, affirming that there are no issues between him and Rogers.
“He is a top guy, he can get along with anyone, can have conversations with anyone,” Bellingham stated. “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 in a lot of the times where he has spoken that we are playing for the same position. I know that has eased up a bit more 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.”
