Jude Bellingham admits he DIDN’T know England were playing Slovakia in their last-16 match at Euro 2024… before dismissing claims that it’ll be an ‘easy game’ for the Three Lions
- Listen to It all starts! EURO DAILY: Should Jude Bellingham be dropped by Gareth Southgate?
- England booked their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 after topping Group C
- However, Bellingham admitted that he did not know who they were drawn against
Jude Bellingham has admitted he did not know who England had been drawn against in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
The Three Lions booked their place in the knockout stages of the tournament after finishing top of Group C as they recorded one win and two draws in the group stage.
By doing this, they secured a match against one of the teams that qualified among the top four third-placed teams – which ended up being Slovakia.
However, it is clear that Bellingham had not been keeping a close eye on the draw after admitting on Thursday morning that he was not aware of the match against Slovakia.
Bellingham was asked on the YouTube series Lions’ Den for his thoughts on playing Slovakia, to which he said: ‘I didn’t know until you said it!
Jude Bellingham admitted he did not know who England had been drawn against in the round of 16
Gareth Southgate (left) hopes the Real Madrid star can help them against Slovakia
‘I think at this point in the tournament you will always have difficult matches. People will look at it and see that it’s Slovakia and think it’s going to be an easy game.
“That’s certainly not the case, because they’re a different kind of threat and it’s a different kind of thing to take down. I think when you play against some countries that come at you a bit more, it’s a bit more open sometimes.
‘I think it will be an interesting match that we will be confident about. “I know the performances in the first three games haven’t been as good as they could be, but I think this is a great opportunity for us to get back to the level we need to be at.”
Bellingham painted a frustrated figure during England’s most recent match against Slovenia, where they drew 0-0 after a poor outfield game.
Bellingham’s annoyance reflected the feelings of many fans in the stadium, who had to endure another listless, lifeless performance in England – albeit with a point that helped them finish top of the group.
Bellingham’s frustration boiled over during the standoff, as the midfielder launched an abuse-laden tirade towards his teammates.
But despite Bellingham’s annoyance toward teammates, his own performance Tuesday night fell short of his high standards.
Slovakia booked their place in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams at Euro 2024
Bellingham was visibly frustrated during England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday
His duel winning percentage (22%) was the lowest on the team and he also lost possession 16 times, which was the most on the team.
The former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund man was one of the standout performers in the opening match, scoring a header against Serbia, and was surprisingly anonymous.
It wasn’t just the defensive side of his game that was lacking. Bellingham failed to make a single shot or create a single chance against any of the tournament’s minnows.
The team’s lackluster performance angered traveling England fans and cups were even thrown at manager Gareth Southgate.