Gareth Southgate plots private talks with ‘frustrated’ midfielder Jude Bellingham… as an ex-England captain urges the Real Madrid ace to ‘front up’ amid Three Lions Euro 2024 woes
- Jude Bellingham has started all three of England’s matches at the 2024 European Championship so far
- He looked very frustrated during the 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday
- Listen to It all starts! EURO DAILY: Should Jude Bellingham be dropped by Gareth Southgate?
England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted he plans to hold talks with Jude Bellingham after his disappointing performance against Slovenia.
Bellingham played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw but failed to register a single shot, while also making zero key passes.
The Real Madrid star was visibly irritated during the Euro 2024 stalemate, at one point shouting at a teammate: ‘Hey, really good pass.’ It’s a little late to check, damn pass it on.’
Southgate has since said he will speak to Bellingham privately.
“I’d rather have those notices with me than plaster them over the newspapers,” Southgate said when asked about Bellingham this week.
Gareth Southgate (left) plans to have private conversations with Jude Bellingham (No. 10)
Bellingham was visibly frustrated during England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday
Bellingham’s European Championship campaign got off to a dream start this summer when he headed England ahead against Serbia after thirteen minutes in the opening match.
But he and his team-mates have produced five halves of dismal football since then.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney recently said of Bellingham via BBC Sport: ‘He looked very frustrated. I’ve been in that exact position. In the match against Slovenia I saw him throw his arms up.
“Jude started well in the first game, but I’m sure he would tell you himself that he hasn’t had the best in the last two games.”
Rooney also claimed that 20-year-old Bellingham should take on more media duties than him.
Bellingham has not spoken publicly since taking part in a live television interview after being named Player of the Match against Serbia on June 16.
Bellingham, 20, pictured after full-time in England’s Euro 2024 stalemate with Slovenia
Ex-England captain Wayne Rooney has urged Bellingham to become more involved in media duties
Rooney said: ‘As a talisman for England and now Real Madrid, I haven’t heard him speak. So what’s the reason for that?
‘As one of the iconic players for England he should do that.
‘We saw Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon speak, who play a small role in the tournament.
‘People want Jude and Harry Kane, Kyle Walker and Jordan Pickford, the senior players. I know Jude isn’t, but he’s going to play when he’s fit and you want to hear him talk. That tells me he’s probably not entirely right.’
Despite failing to impress on the pitch, England won Group C by five points.
The Three Lions will now play against Slovakia in the eighth finals on Sunday.