Jude Bellingham has admitted that the England squad did not connect as well as it could have off the pitch during Euro 2024, despite reaching the final. The Real Madrid midfielder, speaking from England's camp in Kansas City, reflected on the team's struggles during the tournament in Germany.
Off-pitch issues
Bellingham said: "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. 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."
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 before losing to Spain in the final.
Memorable goal overshadowed
Bellingham's stunning overhead kick against Slovakia was one of England's most iconic moments in tournament history, but he admits the circumstances take the shine off it. "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."
Competition with Morgan Rogers
Bellingham is vying with Morgan Rogers for the No 10 role under new manager Thomas Tuchel, who has spoken about creating a "brotherhood" in the squad. The pair grew up in the same area of the West Midlands and played junior football together. Bellingham said: "He is a top guy, he can get along with anyone, can have conversations with anyone. He can be a bit loud. We have debates that turn into arguments a lot. But we get on like brothers, to be fair."
Regarding the competition, Bellingham added: "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."
Bellingham advanced his case for the shirt with a strong display in the final warm-up win against Costa Rica, as England prepare for their World Cup opener against Croatia.
