Jude Bellingham says off-pitch issues hampered England at Euro 2024
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has admitted that a lack of squad connection off the pitch hampered England during their run to the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions reached the showpiece event in Germany but suffered a painful defeat to Spain in what proved to be Gareth Southgate’s final match in charge.
Despite reaching a second successive European Championship final, the national side struggled for form and fluency throughout the tournament.
Heavy burden of expectation
The 22-year-old previously suggested he felt scapegoated for the failure, but has now acknowledged that internal atmospheric issues played a major role.
“At the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch,” the former Borussia Dortmund star said on the Lions’ Den show.
“I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons.”
He explained that the weight of expectation heavily impacted the camp following strong showings at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“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.”
World Cup campaign under Tuchel
England will begin their latest World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June, before facing Ghana and Panama in Group L.
The dynamic playmaker faces fierce competition for a starting berth, with German manager Thomas Tuchel expected to choose between him and Morgan Rogers.
However, the Aston Villa attacker insists there is a healthy competitive spirit within the current squad dynamic.
“We are really aligned and it is really easy and seamless for anyone to fit in the group,” Rogers explained.
“Wherever you are from, wherever you play, ages – it doesn’t matter in this group, and it is a joy to be here.”
