'Nice to give a bit back' - Bellingham to critics

Jude Bellingham said it is bully to springiness a "little spot back" arsenic he responded to England's critics pursuing nan side's melodramatic triumph against Slovakia successful nan past 16 of Euro 2024.

Bellingham scored a spectacular overhead footwear successful nan 95th infinitesimal to equalise earlier England went connected to triumph 2-1 successful other clip and unafraid a quarter-final against Switzerland connected Saturday.

"Playing for England is an enjoyable emotion but it's besides a batch of pressure," said nan Real Madrid midfielder.

"You perceive group talk a batch of rubbish. It's bully erstwhile you tin present and springiness them a small spot back."

England progressed done to nan knockout stages by finishing apical of their group but person been criticised for nan mode of their performances.

They hit Serbia 1-0, drew 1-1 pinch Denmark and were held to a goalless tie by Slovenia anterior to nan last-16 tie.

England went down against Slovakia successful Gelsenkirchen earlier Bellingham's melodramatic extremity and Harry Kane's victor sent them through.

"It's very difficult erstwhile you talk successful property conferences and interviews to talk arsenic openly arsenic footballers want to because they're ever judged," added Bellingham, who marked his extremity pinch his trademark open-armed ceremony and appeared to mouth, 'Who else?'

"For me, football, being connected nan pitch, scoring goals and celebrating is my release. Maybe it was a connection to a fewer people. I was very happy astatine nan end, tons of adrenaline.

"It's a emotion that is for illustration nary other. In world football, successful knockout football, it's moreover a worse feeling, because you're 30 seconds from going home.

"Having to perceive to each nan rubbish, emotion for illustration you person fto a federation of group down. In 1 footwear of nan ball, everything tin change."

Earlier successful nan tournament, Kane had called connected erstwhile England internationals who were now pundits to "remember what it’s for illustration to deterioration nan shirt" earlier being captious of nan existent side.

"You cognize what I mean by nan rubbish," said Bellingham.

"People talk a lot. You do person to return it personally a small bit. We activity truthful difficult astatine this game.

"We travel successful each day, we activity difficult to put connected a capacity for nan fans, sometimes it doesn't spell good and sometimes it feels for illustration there's a spot of a heap on, it's not bully to hear.

"But you tin ever usage it and for moments for illustration that, it's bully to propulsion it backmost to immoderate people."

ITV pundit Gary Neville was England head Roy Hodgson's adjunct erstwhile nan squad suffered a daze conclusion by Iceland successful nan past 16 of Euro 2016.

Neville said England's capacity against Slovakia gave him "Iceland vibes" earlier head Gareth Southgate's broadside avoided a akin exit.

"The players are starting to sound for illustration those of nan past, referring to extracurricular criticism," said Neville pursuing nan match.

"Lads, get your innocence back, get your emotion for tourney shot back. No-one wants to suffer here, everyone wants you to win.

"No-one has criticised them personally, no-one is questioning their character, no-one has said they're not moving difficult - each we've said is they're not playing shot very good and there's an imbalance successful nan team.

"It still needs sorting and it's not for illustration nan disapproval has been complete nan apical successful that respect."

Speaking alongside Neville connected ITV, erstwhile Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane said: "You person to springiness them praise arsenic we were really captious astatine half-time but they recovered a measurement to win. The apical players recovered a moment.

"God thief america if Bellingham starts playing well. They had 2 immense moments and they sewage themselves complete nan line. Credit wherever it's due."

Bellingham's extremity against Slovakia came pinch England's first changeable connected target and was England's latest ever extremity astatine a awesome tournament, excluding other time.

It came connected nan backmost of a debut play astatine Real Madrid successful which Bellingham helped nan nine triumph nan Champions League and Spanish convention title.

He scored 23 goals for Real and registered 11 assists successful 39 games, while he was besides voted La Liga's subordinate of nan season.

Asked aft nan Slovakia crippled astir who writes his scripts, he said: "I do."

Following nan match, Bellingham was seen making a crotch-grabbing motion which he denied was aimed astatine England's beaten opponents.

"An inside-joke motion towards immoderate adjacent friends who were astatine nan game," said Bellingham.

"Nothing but respect for really that Slovakia squad played tonight."