Wayne Rooney has urged Jude Bellingham to keep his composure as he looks to end his England campaign at Euro 2024.
After an impressive opener against Serbia, Bellingham’s form took a nosedive between Denmark and Slovenia, with the Real Madrid midfielder cutting a hugely frustrated figure in England’s third and final group game.
To write The TimesRooney sympathized with the pressure on Bellingham’s shoulders as a young star but urged the 21-year-old not to let it get to him.
“Watching England against Slovenia, I focused on Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to try to understand how they work together,” began Rooney. “What I saw left me worried. Jude’s body told you a lot.
“I’ve been there. I know exactly where he is. I’ve found myself in that position many times in international football, and at certain points in my club career. I just hope the frustration doesn’t go that far. He gets a red card or does something stupid and injures himself against Slovenia, it looks like he’s getting close .
“There was a time when he was running but the pass was intercepted and he just slid on his knees to the side, almost smashed the billboards. Frustration. But something like that is stupid – you can hurt yourself.
“There was that moment in the second half when Kobbie Mainoo played a fantastic cross into the penalty area, where you would have expected Jude to come, but instead he just went outside the box. That was frustrating too. He has done that sometimes and he doesn’t get the ball. When that happens, you don’t have a better game. too much, the doubts start to creep in. You stop doing the right things in this whole competition it looks like you’ve been trying too hard, and the more you try, the more you make decisions you don’t normally make.”
Rooney went on to admit that Bellingham seems to still find a place in the England team which includes a number of players trying to stand out from the crowd.
“We have to remember that Jude is only 20 years old,” continued the Manchester United and Everton striker. “Experience will teach him that when the going gets tough you just have to stay calm and calm, keep doing the right things, and your quality will come out.
“Like I said, I’ve been in those shoes. I know it’s hard. He reminds me of competitions where you want to do well and know that you and the team can play better, and it comes down to you. But don’t do anything stupid, Jude.
“It’s strange to me that until now, he has not done anything with the media and I hope that the situation will change. He is in the leading England team and, whether he likes it or not, he is the star of his country now; he has just won La Liga and the Champions League and he is in a position where he has to answer for himself.
“You feel a certain kind of pressure when you’re considered a star and a winner. But the problem England have is that Phil Foden probably feels he has to justify being a star, Kane probably thinks that and Jude feels the same way.
Sometimes the players in that position end up making decisions for themselves rather than the team, and it’s not a good place for them to stay. Before it’s too late Gareth must find a way to bring them together or it will cost England.
“That would be my message to others if I were captain now: that everyone needs to come together. Because I think England have a big chance to win these Euros, I really do. They won their team, they’re in the draw. where they avoid the big teams and we know – and they know – they can play a lot better.”
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