Jude Bellingham’s confidence should be applauded not frowned upon.
As Bellingham wheeled away after scoring a spectacular volley to save England from crashing out of the UEFA Euro 2024 and Gareth Southgate’s job he, as always, was the coolest man in the arena.
When he was chased and mobbed by his teammates, he appeared to mouth ‘Who else?’. Just days after his 21st birthday, he had saved his teammates and the nation's blushes. In extra time, Harry Kane ensured victory and progressed his side to the quarter-finals.
The aftermath of the game was a mixture of relief, anger and defiance. Bellingham proved a point on the field but did not hold back explaining his celebration in the post-match press conference in Gelsenkirchen
"It's very difficult when you talk in press conferences and interviews to talk as openly as footballers want to because they're always judged," added Bellingham, who marked his goal with his trademark open-armed celebration and appeared to mouth, 'Who else?'
"For me, football, being on the pitch, scoring goals and celebrating is my release. Maybe it was a message to a few people. I was very happy at the end, lots of adrenaline.
"It's a feeling that is like no other. In international football, in knockout football, it's even a worse feeling, because you're 30 seconds from going home.
"Having to listen to all the rubbish, feeling like you have let a nation of people down. In one kick of the ball, everything can change."
Many fans believe players should do the talking with their feet, not their mouths; Bellingham does both. The Real Madrid midfielder then took to Instagram quoting former American president Theodore Roosevelt, posting a screenshot of the speech ‘The Man In The Arena’.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
He is intelligent away from the grass, we should commend this maturity, and reflect on what a world-class human being Bellingham is. Supporters must consider the pressure he is under, he should be allowed to bite back at his critics.”
Most football fans look fondly at the careers of Diego Maradona (maybe not England fans), Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi. All very different players that shared a self-confidence bordering on arrogance. They know how good they are and feel they are the best player on the pitch even when they may not have performed well that given day. In the case of Maradona, he did and continues to transcend the sport, yes, because he was a fantastic footballer, but more so for the entertainment value.
The same goes for Cruyff, a man of morals, and spirit, who certainly was not afraid of speaking his mind to governments never mind a few disgruntled football fans. The Dutch legend named his son ‘Jordi’ which was banned in Spain during Franco’s reign. He told the registry office “Do it, or I leave.” Jordi Cruyff became the first Jordi officially registered in Barcelona. The former Ajax and Barcelona manager was more than a footballer and was loved by the Amsterdammers and Catalans for this.
So, we love foreign players for their eccentric behaviour, but when it is an Englishman or a Brit for that matter, the nation turns its nose up. We should encourage confidence in every aspect of life, we are quick to critique ourselves and others but why not praise, and tell people what you can do respectfully?
The official Oxford definition of the word is ‘the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.’
In contrast, arrogance is defined as ‘behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people.’ Bellingham is confident, not arrogant.
Yes, he throws his arms about and looks visibly annoyed at his teammates but this is because he is a high performer with high standards for himself and those around him. If everyone had a high bar, England would not be struggling past inferior opposition such as Slovenia and Slovakia.
Moving forward, embrace Bellingham, let him be himself and encourage him as I can already see a pile-on happening. All power to Jude for speaking his mind in the press conference, he was the man in the arena.