Jude Bellingham: ‘I felt like England’s scapegoat at Euro 2024’

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has admitted he “felt a bit like the scapegoat” for England’s failure to win the 2024 European Championship this summer.

The Three Lions reached a second consecutive Euros final in July, but they were eventually defeated 2-1 by Spain, with Mikel Oyarzabal netting an 85th minute winner for Luis de la Fuente’s side.

Bellingham scored two goals en route to the final, including a stoppage-time bicycle-kick equaliser against Slovakia in the last-16, but he was widely slammed for his performances during the tournament.

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The 21-year-old started all seven of England’s matches at Euro 2024, however he was frequently accused of being egotistical, while his lack of media participation was also criticised.

Bellingham has now revealed that he lost the enjoyment of playing for England following the backlash he received this summer.

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What has Jude Bellingham said?

Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s crunch Champions League clash against Liverpool, Bellingham told reporters (as per The Athletic): “I’ve got to be honest, I think I lost my smile a lot after the Euros when it came to playing for England.

“I felt like I was a little bit mistreated in comparison to what I contributed. I felt like some of it was a bit harsh on me, I think I felt a bit like the scapegoat. Maybe I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself.

“I think that camp (England’s November international break) with a lot of new faces really brought out the joy in my game again. I think you can see that in the two games (vs Greece and the Republic of Ireland).

“In general I hadn’t lost my smile in a [Real] Madrid shirt. I’m annoyed when we lose… but it’s never a case of not being happy.

“I’m the luckiest lad in the world, I get to play week in, week out for the biggest club in the world and represent my country. It was more to do with how I was treated off the back of the Euros. But yeah, the smile is back!”

Bellingham added: “Pressure is no problem. I understand that with Madrid the expectation is very high, as with the national team. I felt that I had contributed very well in the Euros at key moments and it seemed that the world was breaking down around me. They were not good moments.

“There was criticism that I didn’t speak to the media, I didn’t do a press conference and they said I was above all this, and it wasn’t like that: I was with my family during the tournament, with my grandparents too.

“They crossed a line of respect and that’s why I take it personally. My mother didn’t want to leave the house after the tournament. It was something very personal for me, that’s why I decided to keep quiet.”