The Three Lions may be renowned for falling short when it matters most, but the Real Madrid star can inspire them to glory at Euro 2024
This must be a pretty good time to be an England fan. Qualification for yet another major tournament should be wrapped up by this time next week – and the Three Lions will doubtless arrive in Germany for Euro 2024 as one of the favourites.
Some supporters will be nervous, though. England have become dangerously competitive again under Gareth Southgate, who has, for the most part, done a fine job restoring faith in the national team – and yet their campaigns continue to end in bitter disappointment, one could argue because the heightened sense of expectancy makes (the usually penalty-related) knockout-stage exit even tougher to take.
England's players genuinely believed that they could win the 2022 World Cup, though, and that was wholly understandable. A semi-final run in Russia had been followed by a runners-up finish at Euro 2020. Victory in Qatar seemed the obvious, logical conclusion for a well-balanced squad blessed with several exciting young talents.
Getty ImagesFrustrating failure to defeat France
Jude Bellingham certainly believed as soon as they saw off Senegal in the last 16. There were just three wins standing between England and a first World Cup since 1966, and he was certain that they could win the first of them, against defending champions France. In fairness, they really should have done.
Bellingham left the field at the Al-Bayt Stadium on the night of December 10 in tears after a frustrating 2-1 loss, and when he faced the cameras afterwards, the clearly-still emotional teenager insisted that the better team had lost.
The stats certainly supported that claim. England had dominated possession, won more duels, completed more passes and had twice as many shots on goal (16-8). Kyle Walker had also done an excellent job keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet – something considered unthinkable at the time, given the winger's stunning form – but there was simply no containing Antoine Griezmann, who was involved in both of his side' goals.
The fear had certainly been before the eagerly-awaited quarter-final that France had more experienced and proven match-winners, leading to the undeniable feeling that persisted throughout the game that while France knew how to get the job done, England still did not.
AdvertisementGetty'I don't lack confidence'
There was, then, almost an inevitability about Harry Kane missing a penalty that would have forced extra-time – in spite of the fact that he had already converted one shortly after half-time. It just felt like a fittingly farcical – and painful – way for England to exit the tournament.
Consequently, it was thought that Southgate's time was up; that he had taken the team as far as he could – and, even more damningly, wasted England's best chance to win a World Cup for decades because of his perceived conservativeness. Bellingham, though, was having none of it. He wasn't traumatised by England's campaign in Qatar; he was emboldened by it.
"I personally enjoyed the kind of pressure of the games and the responsibility that the manager gave me," he explained afterwards in an interview with FIFA. "I think you can create [extra] pressure yourself through lack of preparation and confidence. Luckily, I don't lack confidence and I always try to stay prepared. I'm always quite confident I can achieve the things I want to achieve."
And Bellingham has his sights firmly fixed on lifting a major trophy with England.
Getty No more hiding from expectation
Only this week, when he was asked by about his targets with the national team, he matter-of-factly replied, "My goal for the next 12 months with England will be the same for the next 10-15 years: try to win major tournaments.
"I think we can't shy away from saying that now. We've come close in the last few tournaments, and to now go back and say: 'Ah yeah, that was enjoyable, but now we have to be more realistic'…I don’t see the point.
"We should use the experiences we've got from previous tournaments to push on and bring some silverware home. That's the common goal that we are striving towards and we aren’t afraid to say that anymore. In the last few years it's been a case of hiding that expectation, so that we never fail. We've got to be willing to say it, so we can achieve it."
And why shouldn't both he and his team-mates believe themselves capable of taking the title home?
GettyWill Southgate allow Bellingham to shine?
France are the only other team in Europe with a similar strength in depth all over the park and England's only real weakness is Southgate's propensity for playing it too safe – and arguably being far too loyal to underperforming players such as Harry Maguire.
Certainly, if Bellingham is afforded the same freedom bestowed upon him by Real Madrid – "He doesn't have a fixed position," according to coach Carlo Ancelotti – the Birmingham native will flourish in an exciting side that should also contain budding superstars such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Phil Foden.
The challenge, once again, for Southgate will be figuring out the best combinations in both midfield and attack, and that will not be easy. But the primary objective should clearly be building a team around Bellingham – because he is more than capable of inspiring England to victory in Germany.
Of course, whether the fans want to start banging the drum again is open to debate. They've been burned so many times before that some devastated supporters even suggested ditching 'Football's Coming Home' as an unofficial anthem after their latest tournament trauma. However, there is simply no getting away from the fact that they are more than capable of winning Euro 2024 – and Bellingham, with his burgeoning self-belief, is one of the main reasons why.
