Former England star Stan Collymore has called on players to ‘pull Jude Bellingham aside’ ahead of Saturday night’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Switzerland.
The 21-year-old scored a stunning goal on Sunday as the Three Lions battled to beat Slovakia 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen.
Bellingham has since sparked controversy, however, with the midfielder’s attitude coming under fire.
The Real Madrid star has been accused of being cocky after saying ‘who else?’ upon netting for the Three Lions.
Former England star Stan Collymore has called on players to ‘pull Jude Bellingham aside’ ahead of Saturday night’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Switzerland
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Some pundits have also criticised Bellingham for being combative in his post-match interview, with the England star hitting out at the ‘negativity’ that surrounds the camp.
Another talking point is the gesture the England star appeared to make in the aftermath of the win over Slovakia.
UEFA are investigating the 21-year-old after he gestured towards his crotch, though the youngster insists it was an ‘inside joke’ with some friends.
Collymore, speaking to CaughtOffside, believes Bellingham has every right to be cocky.
But he also thinks some England players should step in to intervene and ensure Bellingham doesn’t overstep the mark.
“Jude Bellingham’s still a baby and people will say he’s done very little in his career,” he said.
“He’s not, as the kids say, ‘the man’ yet.
“But if you’re La Liga Player of the Year, you’ve won the Champions League and you’ve been a key part of that then, of course, you’re going to have cockiness and sureness in your own ability.
“He’s not got a final body of work, but I love the attitude he displays.
“I think one of the big, big things about English football, when it comes to English players, is we’ve never celebrated players with talent until long after they’ve retired.
READ MORE:Jude Bellingham ban ‘could be a blessing’ as England prepare for crunch Switzerland showdown
“In Jude’s case, I think that it is both true that I want him to be cocky and confident and to have ultimate self belief, but I also want him to be a fully functioning member and part of the team.
“To remember that his success cannot come without the success of others.
“There’s been a couple of times when he’s gone over to Gareth Southgate and taken instructions then gesticulated a little bit, but again, I think that he’s young and still learning.
“He probably watches, or has watched, lots of big name players take centre stage, not just with their performances but how they interact with the bench.
“The media are saying how good he’s been since 16 years of age, so he’s probably thinking ‘how can I now play the part on and off the pitch?’
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England star Jude Bellingham has been accused of being too cocky as Saturday’s clash with Switzerland looms
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“If he gets punished because of his crotch-grabbing antics it would be incredibly negative, and the reaction to him would be interesting.
“Let’s not forget Wayne Rooney and David Beckham have had the naughty little boy tabloid treatment, so he needs to be careful.”
Suggesting England players intervene, Collymore added: “Maybe Kyle Walker or another senior pro just pulls him aside and says ‘I’ve worked with these big, big dogs. I’ve won everything there is to win with these big dogs. And in the case of a De Bruyne, you couldn’t get a more self-deprecating, it’s not all about me kind of player.’
“If Jude was reading this, all I’d say is keep being cocky, keep being confident, but remember that no player can get to where they need to be without the likes of Phil Foden, Kieran Trippier, Jordan Pickford etc.
“You are just one piece of a cog, you’re not the cog on its own.”
England star Jude Bellingham is expected to start against Switzerland on Saturday
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If England beat Switzerland on Saturday, they’ll be just two victories away from winning the European Championships for the first time.
There have been fears Bellingham could be banned by UEFA for his crotch-grabbing antics.
However, reports say the 21-year-old is likelier to be fined instead – in a huge boost to Gareth Southgate and his side.
Bellingham is, as a result, expected to start against the Swiss.
And it’ll be intriguing to see what formation Southgate goes with amid claims England are looking at using three at the back for the crunch clash.