Euro 2024: Jude Bellingham Responds to Criticism Aimed at England After Serbia Win

• Jude Bellingham scored England’s only goal in their opening Euro 2024 group game against Serbia
• The Three Lions were thoroughly criticised online for an underwhelming performance on Sunday, June 16
• Bellingham has since fired back at the ‘negativity from outside’ which seems to always follow England

Jude Bellingham has come out with a strong defence of his England team amid criticism over The Three Lions’ performance against Serbia.

The Real Madrid midfielder was the difference for his side as he scored the only goal of the game to give Gareth Southgate’s side all three points on Sunday, June 16.

England, tipped as one of the favourites to win the Euros, were underwhelming against the Serbs, who could have easily found the equaliser in the second half.

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They held on, however, to go top of Group C, which also has Denmark and Slovenia.

Bellingham defends England

After the game, Bellingham picked out the positives from his team’s performances as he lamented about a hostile agenda against his nation.

“The first half shows why we can score goals against any team and the second half shows why we can keep clean sheet against any team,” he said, per The Athletic.

“With England sometimes, people look to highlight the negatives a little bit too much and I’m sure they will today as they always do.”

“There’s always an instant negative reaction to the games we play, I think we need to be calm, analyse it for what it is, take the good with the bad and move on to the next game.”

European media slams England

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True to Bellingham’s sentiments, European media were harsh with their assessment of England after the Serbia game.

Infamously critical French outlet L’Equipe was particularly critical of Manchester City defender John Stones, who received a brutal 3 out of 10 rating.

Harry Kane’s subdued performance saw him received a 5 out of 10, with the trio of Phil Foden, Marc Guehi, and Kieran Trippier also joining the Bayern striker in receiving a low rating.

German outlet BILD was equally as scathing towards England, with the publication only singling out Bellingham as the standout performer against Serbia.

Arsenal’s academy boss, Per Mertesacker, joined the criticism, saying England looked weak.

What next for England?

England’s next game is against Denmark on Thursday, before facing Slovenia in their final group game five days later.

Denmark and Slovenia’s 1-1 draw on Sunday worked in The Three Lions’ favour as Southgate needs just one more win from the remaining two games to advance to the last 16 of the competition.

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Erik ten Hag criticises Gareth Southgate

Sports Brief also reported Erik ten Hag’s scathing assessment of Gareth Southgate’s tactics.

The Manchester United boss claimed the England team was very ‘passive’ and accused Southgate’s men of allowing Serbia to attack.

Southgate was accused of sitting back and ‘relying on moments’ after his team took the lead.