England’s golden boy Jude Bellingham has come under fire in Germany with a suggestion that he could go down a ‘really stupid direction’ due to his perceived arrogant antics on the field.
Bellingham, 21, rescued the Three Lions from a shock last-16 knockout after scoring a jaw-dropping bicycle kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Harry Kane then scored the winner in extra time, setting up a quarter-final tie against Switzerland.
Bellingham also made the headlines for a crude gesture seconds after finding the net, having grabbed his crotch in apparent view of the Slovakia bench. He was quick to take to social media to explain, saying the act was a joke aimed at his friends.
Mail Sport understands that the 21-year-old, who also hit back at England supporters post-match after criticism was levelled at another underwhelming performance, will avoid a suspension. He is also expected to escape a fine.
But pundits in Germany have criticised him for a passionate display in which he was spotted gesturing towards team-mates, arguing it bordered on arrogance.
England golden boy Jude Bellingham has been criticised for his conduct on German TV
Bellingham scored an acrobatic bicycle kick to rescue the Three Lions against Slovakia
He made the headlines after appearing to aim an X-rated gesture toward the opposing bench
Christoph Kramer, who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga and faced Bellingham on the pitch several times, told ZDF: ‘He is an outstanding player. He just has to be careful that he doesn’t start to get cocky at such a young age.
‘What I always find really bad is when you wave your hands off your own players. He made a few gestures today, but he has done so in recent games as well.’
‘These theatrical fouls, yellow cards. He stays down, that’s part of football, but…’
Per Mertesacker, formerly of Arsenal, then interrupted, saying: ‘He doesn’t stay lying down, he rolls around. You don’t have to roll around again to provoke something.’
In response, Kramer added: ‘The season he played, I give him credit for that. But he still has to be careful that things don’t go in a really stupid direction. I hope that he reflects on that a bit during the summer break.’
Bellingham joined his current club Real Madrid from German side Borussia Dortmund last summer to the apparent relief of his old team-mates.
Pundit Per Mertesacker accused Bellingham of acting unneccessarily after being fouled
Another expert warned the midfielder to avoid being ‘cocky’ and heading on a ‘stupid’ path
Bellingham delivered a passionate display in the last-16 showdown and was booked
According to multiple reports shortly after the eye-watering move that could cost as much as £113million, Dortmund players believed Bellingham wanted to be the centre of attention and felt he was too harsh toward them during training and matches.
Despite him becoming a supporters’ favourite during his three-year stay, Bellingham is also said to have felt overshadowed by Erling Haaland during the 2021-22 season and responded by waiting behind after games to applaud the crowd on his own.
He quickly became a senior figure in the dressing room and was handed the captain’s armband on multiple occasions during his final campaign at Dortmund. His team-mates, however, accused him of lacking leadership and being moody.
There had been questions over whether Bellingham deserved to start against Slovakia after he, like many of his peers, struggled to find form this summer – but the midfielder repaid Southgate’s trust in sensational style.
Southgate later revealed he had considered hooking Bellingham for fresher legs but persisted with him, pointing to the big moments he has conjured across his career.
Ahead of the tournament, Three Lions legend Alan Shearer described Bellingham as ‘arrogant’ but insisted this bullishness helps him flourish on the pitch.
Bellingham’s former Borussia Dortmund team-mates are said to have been glad he left the club
England legend Alan Shearer labelled Bellingham ‘arrogant’ but insisted this was a positive
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has saluted the player’s ‘humility’ and ‘understanding’
‘He’s phenomenal,’ Shearer told Betfair. ‘You can’t be anything but hugely impressed because of his stature. He’s got an arrogance in a good way. I’m not saying that in a disrespectful way. To be a top player, you need to have that something about you.’
Jose Mourinho believes Bellingham is not cocky, though. The player’s now iconic celebration, in which he stands with his arms held aloft, has led some critics to accuse him of arrogance – but the ‘Special One’ is adamant he is simply confident.
Southgate has also saluted Bellingham’s ‘humility’ and ‘understanding’.
A body language expert, asked by Mail Sport to analyse his mannerisms and post-match comments, has revealed his confidence does not stem from ‘ego’.
‘The balance between his words and his body language signals suggest the right levels of resilience and motivation and he looks like a proper, dedicated player rather than a spoilt prima donna,’ communication specialist Judi James said.
Bellingham has established himself as one of the best players in world football and won the Champions League and LaLiga with Real Madrid last season. He has been handed 33 senior caps for England since his debut in 2020 and scored five goals.
