Bellingham says 'chip on shoulder' fuels World Cup form

Jude Bellingham has said the external "noise" surrounding his place in the England team may help him rediscover his best form during the World Cup. The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was a key talking point before England's opening group match against Croatia, with debate over whether manager Thomas Tuchel would select him or Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role behind captain Harry Kane.

Bellingham was chosen to start in Dallas and scored England's crucial third goal shortly after half-time. Marcus Rashford added a fourth late on to secure a 4-2 victory. "For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches," Bellingham told BBC Sport. "To contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn't change for me at all."

Overcoming a difficult season

Bellingham acknowledged that the 2025-26 campaign has been challenging. His season was disrupted by injury, his club Real Madrid finished eight points behind champions Barcelona, and his place in the England squad came under scrutiny. Despite these setbacks, he said he feels "fresh and sharp" heading into the tournament. He also appreciated supportive comments from teammates such as Jordan Henderson, who described Bellingham as an "X-factor" for England.

Asked if he entered the World Cup with added motivation, Bellingham replied: "A little bit - I think I've got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven't I?" When asked if he performs best under such circumstances, he said: "I think so - that helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and find that intensity. I know that it's part of being a footballer and I don't hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it. Today, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I'm about."

Key goal in England's win

Bellingham's goal came after he collected a pass from Elliot Anderson down the right touchline, cut inside, and slid a low shot past the Croatia goalkeeper into the far corner. The goal put England ahead for the third time in the match, after they had twice surrendered a one-goal advantage in the first half. This marked the second consecutive World Cup in which Bellingham scored in England's opening game, having also netted against Iran in 2022.

Former England defender Micah Richards, working as a pundit for BBC Sport, praised Bellingham's performance: "Bellingham is a big-game player. Rogers is fantastic as well, but in the moment where you needed him, he comes up trumps and that is the difference."