Bellingham Opens Up About Post-Euro 2024 Struggles and Media Scrutiny

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has revealed his emotional struggles following England's Euro 2024 campaign, where he felt unfairly targeted as a scapegoat despite making significant contributions to the team's journey to the final. Speaking ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Liverpool, the midfielder disclosed how the criticism affected both his enjoyment of playing for England and his family's well-being.

During the tournament, Bellingham had proven instrumental for England, scoring their opening goal against Serbia and delivering a dramatic 95th-minute overhead kick equalizer against Slovakia in the round of 16. Despite these crucial moments, the aftermath of England's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final led to intense criticism of both the team's conservative playing style and Bellingham's performances in particular.

The situation was further complicated by personal circumstances, with Bellingham revealing that journalists had approached his family members during the tournament, leading to distressing situations such as his grandmother feeling unable to leave her house throughout the summer. This invasion of privacy prompted his decision to avoid media interactions during the tournament, a choice that was misinterpreted as arrogance. While his form at Real Madrid has seen some fluctuation this season, with two goals and four assists in 14 appearances, Bellingham has shown signs of recovery, notably contributing three assists in England's recent 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.