Jude Bellingham reflects on the atmosphere in England’s camp during Euro 2024 under manager Gareth Southgate, who aims to win his individual match against Morgan Rodgers.
The battle for 10th place is Jude Bellingham vs Morgan Rogers (Image: Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham has revealed what happened off the pitch during England’s Euro 2024 campaign was “wrong”.
Former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate led England to the final two years ago, but Germany’s camp was decidedly less harmonious.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has promised to build a “brotherhood” ahead of this World Cup, but Bellingham admitted England did not perform well and the team was not happy in their last major tournament.
England star Bellingham told the FA’s Lions Den Show: “I think there were some things that went wrong off the pitch at the Euros. I feel like the group wasn’t as connected as I would have liked for various reasons.”
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“As far as the tournament goes, we were seen as one of two or three teams that could win. We weren’t playing well and that didn’t help us. So even though we were winning, we didn’t feel as happy as we should have.”
Southgate revamped his squad by bringing in a number of new young players, but the England manager later admitted he had probably made too many changes. England manager Tuchel insists his World Cup squad must be filled with “good tourists” and has brought in the likes of Jordan Henderson and Dan Byrne to add experience and leadership.
England reached the final in 2024, losing to Spain, but it was far from convincing and it took a magical last-minute Bellingham overhead kick to save them from losing to Slovakia in the last 16.
Gareth Southgate left England after Euro 2024 (Image: PA)
But Bellingham says that despite his brilliant goal, England were left in such a bad situation that the sparkle faded. “I still remember how I felt at that time. I always feel a little uncomfortable because it was so bad.
“We weren’t playing well. I remember watching the World Cup and the Euros as a kid and seeing teams that shouldn’t have been in there. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’m about to get caught up in that moment.’ This is something that shakes up the whole of English football.”
Bellingham faces a battle to start for England at this World Cup, with his main competition for his place being childhood friend Morgan Rodgers. It looks set to be a direct battle between the two players for the No 10 role in England’s group opener against Croatia next Wednesday, but Bellingham said it was a friendly rivalry.
Bellingham added: “As a person, he’s a top guy, he gets along with everyone, he can have a conversation with anyone. He can be a little picky. A lot of times arguments turn into arguments. But to be fair, we get along like brothers.”
“The manager has made it very clear many times that we play in the same positions. I know that feeling has softened a little bit when he sees me playing more positions and Morgs playing more positions, but to be honest, when he’s playing and I’m not playing, I don’t feel any bad feelings.”
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