Bellingham urges England to 'feel loved' after Euro 2024 disconnect ahead of Croatia opener

Jude Bellingham has called on England to foster a tighter team spirit at the 2026 World Cup, admitting the squad’s internal atmosphere fell short at Euro 2024 and warning that every player must feel valued if the Three Lions are to go all the way.

Speaking on England’s Lions’ Den show, the Real Madrid midfielder said the group “didn’t connect as well as it could” during last summer’s European Championship in Germany, pointing to the weight of expectation as a key factor. “We were not playing particularly well so even when we were winning you didn’t get the feeling you were as happy as you should be,” Bellingham said.

His message ahead of England’s Group C opener against Croatia in Dallas was direct: “Everyone’s got to feel loved and feel a huge part of the team. The other thing is just to enjoy it.” He also noted that tournament football has a habit of producing unlikely heroes — “the guy who scores the winning goal in the World Cup final isn’t always the one you’d bet your house on” — and stressed that the squad must stay collectively ready rather than relying on individuals.

The comments arrive in the context of a minor debate over Bellingham’s own starting position. Manager Thomas Tuchel has suggested the 22-year-old’s place in the XI is not guaranteed and that he cannot win the tournament alone, while some pundits have floated Morgan Rogers as a potential starter.

Bellingham, who has earned 48 caps since making his England debut as a 17-year-old, was a fixture throughout the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, starting every game and scoring against Iran. At Euro 2024 he was again central to England’s run to the final against Spain, netting the opener against Serbia and a crucial late equaliser against Slovakia in the last 16.

After facing Croatia, Tuchel’s side will continue their group-stage campaign against Ghana and Panama.