Jude Bellingham wasn’t happy with Enzo Fernandes’ equalizing goal (Image: BBC)
“In the middle of the goal,” Jude Bellingham appeared to groan bitterly after Enzo Fernandes drew Argentina level with England in the World Cup semi-final. Jordan Pickford was unable to prevent Chelsea midfielder Fernandes from firing into the net from close range despite throwing himself to his right from a short corner. Bellingham apparently watched a replay of the goal on a screen inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
There was no line of sight at that time as he was the only player trying to contain Fernandes. However, looking back at the match, Bellingham didn’t seem at all satisfied with Pickford’s effort. Gary Neville was equally quick to target the Everton shot-stopper. Speaking at the Stick to Football World Cup Watch Party, the former Manchester United and Three Lions defender said: “It’s not like he’s fallen into a corner, he’s got to save it. He’s got to save it. He got through it.”
Neville also blamed Pickford for failing to get a shot early in the match, saying: “You can’t let him take a shot from there. You’ve got to catch it. It’s straight at him. To be honest, that’s over too.”
However, Roy Keane chose to give Fernandes credit. He said, “What a strike, what a strike. ‘Keeper’s not even close. Look, keeper, he’s not even close. That’s power.'”
But Pickford was not the only target of Neville’s complaints. Before the goal, he said: “We stop playing and sit down. We’re asleep, we’re asleep.”
Keane also deemed the winning goal scored by Lautaro Martínez to have been entirely foreseeable, stating: “I said he would score, but didn’t I say he would score?”
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Jordan Pickford fails to save Enzo Fernandes’ shot (Image: Getty)
Gary Neville was unimpressed by Jordan Pickford’s failure to save Enzo Fernandes’ shot (Image: Sticking to soccer)
“I said Martinez was going to score with a header, didn’t I? It was all on (Messi’s) right side. What a game. I said Martinez was going to score. What a great option he is off the bench.”
He added: “Give credit where credit is due. It’s because he (Messi) has weak legs. We are observing greatness here, let me tell you. We are observing greatness, and we are seriously evaluating it.”
It became clear that Keane had predicted the final scoreline correctly, with Ian Wright admitting: “Argentina 2-1…”, to which the Irishman grinned and asked rhetorically: “Who said Argentina were 2-1? Me?”
After the match, a devastated Bellingham said: “I think I’m going to gain a lot of experience from this and I’m very disappointed. I wanted to finally do it and be part of the England team that got over the line. To come here and say the same thing that the fans have been hearing for years is really disappointing.”
“I wish I could have won one or two more times, but right now my head is clouded with disappointment, so I’m sorry.”
