Jude Bellingham took center stage in a two-minute pre-tournament advertisement featuring icons like David Beckham, Frank Lampard, and grime artist Stormzy, set to The Beatles’ classic ‘Hey Jude’. The advert portrayed the young Real Madrid star as England’s long-awaited hero amidst historical disappointments, ahead of the tournament in Germany where the Three Lions started as favorites.
While the ad quickly captured public attention, a report from The Athletic suggests that some within the England team felt it overly emphasized one individual, contradicting the unity fostered by manager Gareth Southgate. It’s noted that Bellingham, despite his close relationship with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, doesn’t have as many strong connections within the squad. The 20-year-old is reportedly highly conscious of media perceptions and commentary about him.
Despite moments of brilliance, such as scoring the decisive goal in England’s opening group match and a spectacular last-minute bicycle-kick equalizer in the round of 16, Bellingham couldn’t single-handedly lead England to victory in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin. As he prepares for Madrid’s preseason and England faces upcoming Nations League fixtures in September, Bellingham faces the task of regrouping after the disappointment.