Jude Bellingham has broken his silence on what went wrong inside England’s camp at Euro 2024 and his honesty is both refreshing and revealing. Speaking ahead of England’s opening World Cup 2026 group game against Croatia, the Real Madrid midfielder admitted the squad was not sufficiently connected during their run to the final in Germany, where they ultimately fell to Spain.
Two years on, with a new manager, a new culture and a point to prove, Bellingham believes England are in a fundamentally different place. But first, he had to face the truth about what went wrong.
“We Got Things Wrong Off the Pitch”
Despite reaching the Euro 2024 final, England’s tournament was defined by near-misses and narrow escapes rather than convincing football. A last-minute overhead kick from Bellingham against Slovakia, penalties against Switzerland and a stoppage-time goal to edge past the Netherlands it was survival, not domination.
Bellingham, speaking candidly on England’s Lions’ Den show from the squad’s base in the United States, didn’t shy away from the uncomfortable reality.
“At the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch,” he said. “I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons. Expectation was part of it we had done well in 2018 and done well in Qatar and when it came to that tournament we were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it.”
The weight of expectation, he suggested, poisoned the atmosphere. Wins felt hollow. Tension replaced joy. “We were not playing particularly well so even when we were winning you didn’t get the feeling you were as happy as you should be.”
He reflected that momentum from victories wasn’t being harnessed the way it should be. “There has to be that element of relentlessness and wanting to win, but it is the nature of football that wins go out of the system quickly and we should hold on to that moment a little more.”
The Overhead Kick That Made Him Uncomfortable
Bellingham’s last-gasp overhead kick against Slovakia in the last 16 is already one of England’s most iconic tournament moments. But ask the man himself, and the memory is laced with discomfort rather than pride.
“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,” he admitted. “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.”
It’s a remarkable level of self-awareness from a 22-year-old. And it signals why Bellingham is determined to approach 2026 differently.
What’s Changed Under Thomas Tuchel
New England manager Thomas Tuchel has made the idea of a “brotherhood” central to his philosophy a deliberate attempt to rebuild the togetherness that Bellingham feels was missing in Germany. The early signs from training camp suggest the message is landing.
“Everyone’s got to feel loved and feel a huge part of the team,” said Bellingham. “And the other thing is just to enjoy it.”
It sounds simple. But for England, a squad that has historically struggled to translate individual quality into collective brilliance at tournaments, getting that balance right could be the difference between another near-miss and a genuine World Cup challenge.
The No.10 Battle: Bellingham vs Morgan Rogers
One of the most compelling subplots heading into England’s opener against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium is the straight shootout between Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for the No.10 shirt a contest that has kept the camp buzzing throughout pre-tournament preparations.
Ten days ago, Rogers appeared to have the edge. He featured in all eight of England’s World Cup qualifying matches, while Bellingham played in only four. Tuchel himself said publicly that the Real Madrid man had a fight on his hands to earn a starting place.
But Bellingham appears to have swung the pendulum back in his favour over the two pre-tournament friendlies. A particularly impressive performance against Costa Rica highlighted by Tuchel’s specific praise for his work off the ball combined with the fact he wore the captain’s armband in both Florida friendlies, has shifted the consensus back towards the 22-year-old.
The personal dynamic between the two players makes the situation all the more interesting. Bellingham and Rogers grew up in the same area of the West Midlands and played junior football together. Their relationship remains tight, despite the direct competition.
“As a person, he is a top guy, he can get along with anyone,” Bellingham said of Rogers. “He can be a bit loud. We have debates that turn into arguments a lot. But we get on like brothers, to be fair. I honestly have no ill feelings when he is playing and I’m not playing.”
Roy Keane: “He’s Not Far Behind Kane”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane offered his typically blunt assessment of where Bellingham sits in the England hierarchy and it was a ringing endorsement.
“It seems that way,” Keane said of Bellingham’s influence in the squad. “He enjoys that pressure. Yes, he’s had a difficult spell at Madrid, he’s had a few injuries. But we’ve seen in the last week, he looks a bit narky but I think that maybe helps his game. He’s the player who embraces the pressure of being the main man. Harry is captain and has that title, Bellingham’s not far behind.”
Keane also had a pointed message on the topic of 1966 the year England last won a World Cup, and a reference that still haunts the national conversation six decades on.
“If you’re born and raised in England, you should be proud of that achievement. Has it added pressure to players over the last few tournaments? I think sometimes maybe it’s an excuse. They should be proud of it and get on with it embrace it and not feel it’s a pressure. If you look at those players and think ‘if they can achieve it, and England over the last few years have had enough quality, why haven’t we done it?’ That should spur them on, not put too much pressure on them.”
Historic Milestone: A Record Already Written
Away from the headlines, Bellingham arrived at this World Cup having already etched his name into the history books. At just 22 years and 15 days old, he became the youngest player ever to make 15 appearances across UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups combined surpassing legends of the game in the process. In a fitting coincidence, the second-youngest player to reach that milestone at the same time was his England team-mate Bukayo Saka, at 22 years and 313 days.
The Verdict: Is Bellingham Starting Against Croatia?
As things stand yes, almost certainly. The Costa Rica display, the captain’s armband, Tuchel’s specific praise for his defensive contribution, and Bellingham’s own hunger following a personally turbulent season at Real Madrid all point in one direction. Rogers will get his minutes in this World Cup, but England’s most important game of the group stage is likely to start with Bellingham in the No.10 role.
England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium on Wednesday, with a nation once again daring to dream.
