England manager Gareth Southgate has indicated his intention to have a conversation with midfielder Jude Bellingham to address his challenges during the group stage of Euro 2024.
Bellingham, who arrived at the tournament with high expectations following a stellar debut season with Real Madrid, impressed in England’s opening win against Serbia but struggled in subsequent matches against Denmark and Slovenia. Amid calls for Bellingham to potentially be benched for the last-16 clash with Slovakia, Southgate emphasized his focus on finding solutions to improve England’s offensive performance.
“I will discuss those matters with [Bellingham] privately rather than discuss them publicly,” Southgate told the media. “It’s about the collective team effort. We need to function as a cohesive unit, adapting to different tactical challenges. Against Slovenia, for example, their compact defense made it more challenging to play through the middle.”
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Southgate praised the performances of other players like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Cole Palmer, highlighting their contributions to the team’s dynamics.
Regarding Bellingham’s form, England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney acknowledged there seems to be something amiss with the midfielder this summer.
“Jude started well in the first game, but he would probably admit he hasn’t been at his best in the last two matches,” Rooney commented on the Football Daily podcast. “He appears visibly frustrated, which is understandable. As a key figure for both England and Real Madrid, his role is pivotal. There might be underlying reasons for this, and it’s important to support him through it.”
Rooney also noted Bellingham’s passionate approach and desire for improvement, emphasizing the importance of managing emotions to avoid potential disciplinary issues.
In summary, Southgate aims to address Bellingham’s challenges privately while stressing the importance of collective team performance as England progresses in Euro 2024.