"He was turning round to look at others and throwing his arms up" - Wayne Rooney claims England star is frustrated with teammates at EURO 2024
England legend Wayne Rooney has said that Jude Bellingham has looked frustrated with his England teammates at Euro 2024. The Real Madrid star has cut a frustrated figure and has not looked his best for the Three Lions as they limped into the knockouts following one win and two draws.
The midfielder came into the team after a fabulous debut campaign with Los Blancos that saw him win the La Liga and UEFA Champions League double. Bellingham has not looked like the same player for his nation, though, drawing the attention of Rooney.
Writing in his column in The Times, the Manchester United all-time top goalscorer mused:
'Three or four times in the first half he (Bellingham) could not hide his frustration (against Slovenia). He was turning round to look at others and throwing his arms up. Body language like that sends a message to the fans, to his teammates, to the manager.
"I just hope the frustration doesn’t boil over to the point where he gets a red card or does something stupid and gets himself injured. Against Slovenia, it looked as if he was getting close."
Rooney continued:
"There was the time he ran through, but the pass was overhit, and he slid on his knees off the side, almost smashing into the advertising boards. Frustration. But something like that is so silly — you can injure yourself."
Jude Bellingham will be back in action for England on Sunday (June 30) as the Three Lions face Slovakia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16. The Real Madrid star will hope that he and his teammates can get on the same wavelength and help bring the trophy home for the first time.
Wayne Rooney demands more from England's senior players at Euro 2024
Wayne Rooney has urged the England senior players to step up and show leadership at Euro 2024 following their lackluster start to the tournament. The Three Lions haven't looked convincing in Germany and will need their senior players to step up in the knockouts.
The Manchester United and England legend demanded more from the senior players in the team, writing his column in The Times:
"'We should have seen Harry, Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker and other senior players fronting up.
"Instead, it was Anthony Gordon doing the press, it was Cole Palmer doing bits — and this was after all the stuff at the end when fans were throwing beer cups at Gareth Southgate."
Wayne Rooney concluded by reminding the England senior players to step to the front in testing situations:
"It’s then that you need your senior lads to be in front of the microphones, calming everything down. The young ones handled themselves well but, when one loose word can make the situation worse, it was a lot of pressure to put them under."
The Three Lions will hope to improve their performances against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen as they eye a possible Euro 2024 quarterfinal showdown with defending champions Italy, who beat them on penalties in the 2020 final.