Bellingham silences critics with goal as England open World Cup campaign with 4-2 win over Croatia

Jude Bellingham answered his doubters with a decisive goal as England launched their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Group L in Dallas on Wednesday, with Thomas Tuchel’s side recovering from a shaky first half to run out convincing winners.

The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder had faced a turbulent build-up to the tournament, missing England’s September and October camps through injury and drawing further scrutiny after Tuchel’s widely circulated comments from last summer that his mother had found Bellingham’s behaviour “repulsive”. Questions had also circulated over whether he or close friend Morgan Rogers would start as England’s number 10, with Bellingham ultimately preferred before shifting into a deeper role during the match.

None of it appeared to weigh on him on the pitch. Bellingham netted the third goal and delivered an assured all-round performance, prompting a candid reflection on what had driven him.

“It has been a tough season for me but I am feeling fresh and sharp and stronger,” he told BBC Sport. “I have got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. That helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity.”

Bellingham was measured in his response to the pre-tournament noise, declining to single out any individual. “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.”

His commitment to Tuchel’s team-first “brotherhood” ethos had also been questioned in the lead-up to the game, but Bellingham was emphatic that representing England overrides any external distraction.

“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,” he said. “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.”

On the game itself, Bellingham acknowledged England were not at their fluent best throughout. “Second half, we got things right, first half we got the intensity right, but not quite with the ball and second half we put it all together nicely.” The 4-2 scoreline nonetheless represents an encouraging start for Tuchel’s side in Group L.