Jude Bellingham opens up on England fans' impact and external 'negativity' amid Euro 2024 tilt
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Updated 27/06/2024 at 13:19 GMT+1
Jude Bellingham says England fans inside stadiums are giving players “energy” at Euro 2024 as he admitted to feeling “absolutely dead” at the end of their goalless draw with Slovenia. The Real Madrid midfielder says there is “a lot of negativity outside” the camp, but that it feels “so different” inside the grounds. Gareth Southgate’s side face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday.
Southgate 'won't back away' from England fans' criticism
Jude Bellingham has acknowledged there is “a lot of negativity” around England but says fans inside stadiums are giving players “energy” to not “give up” at Euro 2024.
The Real Madrid midfielder admitted to feeling “absolutely dead” in the closing stages of Tuesday’s goalless draw with Slovenia, which secured top spot in Group C, amid claims from Wayne Rooney that the 20-year-old is "not quite right".
Gareth Southgate’s side were booed by some fans at the final whistle of the Slovenia game, but still head into Sunday’s last-16 tie with Slovakia unbeaten from three matches.
A small section of supporters also threw beer cups at the manager when he went over to applaud them at the end of Tuesday’s match, but Bellingham says the majority are playing a big role in Germany.
"I think you definitely draw on them for energy towards the end of games," he told Lions’ Den.
"I felt like in the last game, I was absolutely dead, but you hear them singing, hear them chanting, and you can play at a level that's not our best, it's normal, it can happen.
"But I think the important thing is, when you're wearing this badge, and you're representing those fans, is that you don't give up, and I think that they're a constant reminder of that.
"I think it's always interesting. I know there's a lot of negativity outside the stadium and the camp, but I always feel that when we get into the stadium, it's so different.
"I think it's important that as team-mates and as a team, we remember that the ones in the stadium are the ones that are going to give us the energy so don't worry about the ones that aren't there.
"We've obviously got to keep using that energy, using that feeling that we get from them, to be successful in this tournament."
A group of 23 players trained for England on Thursday, including Luke Shaw who has not played a competitive match since February, with Declan Rice and Kieran Trippier following their own programmes and Phil Foden back in the UK because of a "pressing family matter", believed to be the birth of his third child.
England appeared to be on course for a knockout fixture with the Netherlands, but Georgia’s 2-0 win over Portugal and Turkey’s 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic changed the complexion of Group F and the third-place standings - meaning Slovakia will be The Three Lions' next opponents.
England have landed a favourable half of the draw, avoiding hosts Germany, Spain, France, Belgium and Portugal. A quarter-final with Italy is possible though, in what would be a repeat of the Euro 2020 decider, which England lost on penalties.
Bellingham looked ahead to the Slovakia tie, after admitting he had been unaware who England were due to face.
“You're always going to have tough games at this point of the tournament," he said.
"People will obviously look at Slovakia and think it's going to be an easy game, it's definitely not the case. They'll pose a different kind of threat, it's a different kind of team to break down.
"Sometimes when you play the nations that come at you a bit more, it's more open. It'll be an interesting game, it's one that we're confident we have enough in the room to win.
"I know the performances haven't been as good as they can be in the first three games, but it's a great opportunity for us to get back to the level we need to be at."
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