New Delhi: Jude Bellingham said giving a “little bit back” to the English critics felt nice after his side won a close game against Slovakia in the last 16 of UEFA Euro 2024. Bellingham’s sensational overhead kick in the 95th minute helped England equalise before skipper Harry Kane’s goal in the extra-time helped them win 2-1 and secure their quarter-final game against Switzerland on Saturday.
“Playing for England is an enjoyable feeling, but it’s also a lot of pressure,” said the Real Madrid midfielder. Bellingham further said it was nice to deliver whenever he can and answer to the people who “talk a lot of rubbish.”
Despite scoring a 13th-minute goal in their win over Serbia, Bellingham has been under scrutiny. His performance dipped in England’s last two league games. In the game against Slovenia, he had no shots on target, zero chances created, no successful tackles and lost possession 16 times, which was more than anyone in the team.
He struggled, partly due to Gareth Southgate’s tactics, that forced him to play deeper in the field than his usual position in Real Madrid.
Bellingham noted, “For me, football, being on the pitch, scoring goals and celebrating is my release. Maybe it was a message to a few people. I was very happy at the end, lots of adrenaline.”
Later in his Instagram post, he further quoted Roosevelt, America’s 26th president’s famous “The Man in the Arena.”
The famous speech quoted by Bellingham goes as: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”
Meanwhile, England will make their fifth quarter-final appearance at the European Championship. In the previous edition, England were runners-up. This time, they hope to win their maiden Euro Championship but for that happen, Bellingham must keep responding to his critics with more match-winning exploits.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham has responded to critics after scoring equalising goal against Slovakia in the Round of 16 fixture. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
