Jude Bellingham says he did not enjoy playing for England after the 2024 European Championship having felt “like the scapegoat” at the tournament.
The 21-year-old midfielder said his enjoyment returned during former interim head coach Lee Carsley’s final camp in charge, after believing he had been “a little bit mistreated” during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, where they lost to Spain.
Bellingham started all seven of England’s matches at the Euros but said he faced criticism for his attitude and willingness to participate in media duties, which resulted in his mother not wanting to leave the house following the tournament.
Asked about a post on Instagram this month where he referred getting his “smile back in an England shirt”, Bellingham replied: “When I’ve reviewed the (Real Madrid) games I think my form has been OK, well, pretty good to be honest, I’ve just not been scoring goals.
“I’ve got to be honest, I think I lost my smile a lot after the Euros when it came to playing for England. I felt like I was a little bit mistreated in comparison to what I contributed. I felt like some of it was a bit harsh on me, I think I felt a bit like the scapegoat. Maybe I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself.
“I think that (November England) camp with a lot of new faces really brought out the joy in my game again. I think you can see that in the two games (against Republic of Ireland and Greece).
“In general I hadn’t lost my smile in a Madrid shirt. I’m annoyed when we lose and I’m and I get frustrated and upset when we lost but it’s never a case of not being happy. I’m the luckiest lad in the world, I get to play week in, week out for the biggest club in the world and represent my country. It was more to do with how I was treated off the back of the Euros. But yeah, the smile is back.”
Bellingham provided two goals and an assist during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. After scoring a 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia in the last-16 to send the tie to extra time, he said it was a the perfect response to people “talking a lot of rubbish”, adding: “It feels like it’s a bit of a pile-on”.
“Pressure is no problem,” he continued. I understand that with Madrid the expectation is very high, as with the national team. I felt that I had contributed very well in the Euros at key moments and it seemed that the world was breaking down around me. They were not good moments.
“There was criticism that I didn’t speak to the media, I didn’t do a press conference and they said I was above all this, and it wasn’t like that: I was with my family during the tournament, with my grandparents too.
“They crossed a line of respect and that’s why I take it personally. My mother didn’t want to leave the house after the tournament. It was something very personal for me, that’s why I decided to keep quiet.”
Madrid return to action against Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
(Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
