Why The Bellingham Hate?
England's best youngster draws unwanted criticism.
Jude Bellingham is only 22. He turns 23 this summer.
He counts the Champions League and a LaLiga title among his honours.
The midfielder has already made 48 England appearances since making his debut back in November 2020.
In the same time, only four England players have made more appearances for the Three Lions.
Bellingham’s tally of six England goals includes two crucial ones at Euro 2024, as Gareth Southgate’s team reached the final.
He is not only one of Real Madrid’s best players, but after Harry Kane and, maybe Declan Rice, he is England’s best, too.
Yet from the scrutiny and criticism he receives from some sections of the media, and the England fanbase, you probably wouldn’t know it.
Bellingham, for some reason, is a decisive character.
Maybe it’s because of a perceived arrogance. Maybe it’s because Bellingham comes across as confrontational. Maybe it’s because people love to build someone up, only to tear them down.
Bellingham has never shied away from the limelight, at least on the pitch. There definitely is a bit of “main character syndrome” about him. And you know what? Rightly so. Because he’s brilliant.
Morgan Rogers, likewise, is excellent, but Bellingham has proved himself not only in an England shirt, but at the biggest club of them all.
Jordan Henderson on Jude Bellingham
“What he has done so far at such a young age, I think everybody forgets how young he is, even me sometimes.
“I honestly couldn’t speak highly enough of him.
“I know a lot gets written in the media, I find it hard to read sometimes really because I just know just how big an influence he is on this team, how good a team-mate he is off the field.
“What he gives us is just something really special. He really gives us an X-factor in our team. He has had big moments in his career, he is a big game player.
“He has got experience in tournaments. He is a huge, huge player for us in this tournament.
“If you ask any player in this group, they will tell you how much of a good team-mate he is, how well he trains.
“I do think that a lot of the media and the stuff that gets written isn’t all true to be honest, a lot of it is actually untrue.
“For us, we know what he can do and we all love him inside the camp and I suppose that’s the main thing.”
Few players should be absolutely guaranteed a spot in England’s starting XI for their World Cup opener against Croatia. But one of the ones who should be sure of a place, is Bellingham.
Why there has been so much talk over the situation is baffling, and one hope Thomas Tuchel sees sense.
Bellingham is a difference-maker; a game-changer; a match-winner. Throw in any description you like — he’s bloody good.
Rogers could be equally as effective starting from the left flank, but if not, he is a more than able deputy to call on from the bench. Just because Bellingham should start, shouldn’t mean he is sure to play for 90 minutes.
Croatia’s midfield will be run by the evergreen Luka Modric. He has passed England to death before, running the show in the 2018 World Cup final. He knows Bellingham well, of course, but that works both ways.
That snide, drive and energy Bellingham brings is just the kind of quality this England team needs.
They have rarely clicked into top gear under Tuchel, playing instead in moments. Well, Bellingham is a player to provide those moments — you can’t have him on the bench when it really matters.
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