Jude Bellingham admits to playing with a ‘chip on his shoulder’ in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia amid an ongoing debate over his position in the starting XI. The Real Madrid star was one of the standout performers for the Three Lions in an impressive second-half display in Dallas.
Bellingham scored England’s third goal of the game, as Thomas Tuchel’s side blew their European counterparts away in the second 45 minutes. The German head coach admitted the Real Madrid man was not a guaranteed starter heading into the game, with the impressive Morgan Rogers his direct competitor for the position.
However, it was Bellingham who was given the nod to start against Croatia, and he repaid his manager’s faith. Speaking after the game about Bellingham’s display, Tuchel said: “A very good player, he deserved to start, and that’s what he needs to do to fight for his place.”
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Speaking to BBC Sport, Bellingham said: “Yeah, for me personally it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us try and win football matches. I think it was a great team performance second half.
“First half, we still got the intensity right, but with the ball, we weren’t quite there. Second half I think we put it all together nicely, and again, to contribute and help my team, help my country, it’s one of the biggest honours.
“Regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn’t change for me.”
Bellingham impressed amid an ongoing debate over who should start in the number ten position between himself and Aston Villa star Rogers. Both Tuchel and Jordan Henderson had come out to praise the Real Madrid star in the build-up to the game, citing his ‘X-Factor’ ability to win games.
View 2 ImagesJude Bellingham of England celebrates(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
When asked about his goal and those comments, Bellingham said: “It was a good pass from Elliot [Anderson]. It put me in a good position and took it into the box. It was pretty normal goal except the pass was top level.
“I’m grateful to them for lifting me up in that position. Obviously, it’s been a bit of a tougher season for me but I feel fresh, I feel sharp, strong and ready to give everything that I have. It’s nice to hear those things.”
When asked if there was an added impetus for him, Bellingham said: “A little bit, I think I have a little bit of a chip on the shoulder. I think that helps me a lot.
“To find that focus early in the game, to find that intenstity. I know it’s part of being a footballer, I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it.
“Today it was nice to remind people and show people what I’m about.”
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Bellingham called on his England teammates to maintain the standard set in that second half display. He said: “I was speaking to H [Harry Kane] after the game and said that’s our standard now.
“That has to be the minumum. The second half, the intensity and what we do with the ball. That’s got to be the bare minumum and we build from that.
“The first half you can accept that, you can write it off because at least we were still intense and we did a lot of the right things.
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“There was a lot of lads making their World Cup debuts and it’s a big stage. I think second half is what we’re about.”
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