Wayne Rooney has warned Gareth Southgate that Jude Bellingham’s frustrations could ‘boil over’ during England’s Euro 2024 knockout stage.
After the Euro 2024 group stage concluded on Wednesday evening, the Three Lions will now play Slovakia in their last-16 match this Sunday at 5pm.
England have been unable to hit top form so far this tournament, and a drab goalless draw against Slovenia on Tuesday led to Southgate being pelted by empty cups by supporters.
Bellingham’s frustrations were clear to see during the stalemate against Slovenia and Rooney believes the Real Madrid midfielder is ‘not quite right’.
‘Jude starts the first game well but I’m sure he’d tell you himself he hasn’t the best games in the last two games,’ Rooney said on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast.
‘For me he’s looked very frustrated, I’ve been there exactly the position he’s in, even the game yesterday, you saw him throwing his arms up in the air.
Jude Bellingham struggled to make an impact in England’s draw with Slovenia on Tuesday (Shutterstock)
‘As a talisman for England and Real Madrid, I haven’t heard him in speak. What is the reason for that? As one of the iconic players now for England in the squad, he should be fronting that.
‘That tells me that he’s probably not quite right in the tournament.
‘He’s giving it his all, 100 per cent, I don’t think that’s the problem. You want players demanding more from their teammates, and I think that’s what he was trying to do.
‘So, it’s not a criticism, it is a compliment in some ways but you just don’t want that to boil over to the point where he might pick up a silly red card.’
Meanwhile, Southgate has said he will speak privately with Bellingham in order to get the best out of the midfielder ahead of England’s clash with Slovakia this weekend.
‘I will have those messages with him rather than plaster them over the papers,’ Southgate said.
‘It’s about the team. We have to play as a team at all times and some days the space will be where there is more opportunity for our wingers, as Slovenia defended narrow. Our wingers could show what they could do.
‘It was a little bit harder to play through the middle. I thought Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka did very well and Cole Palmer obviously had a good impact when he came on. That is what a team is.
‘For everyone else you have to focus on individuals but for me it is about the team functioning and we were closer to where we want to be.’