Jude Bellingham's breathtaking overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time on Sunday night salvaged England's chances at the European Championship, bringing their match against Slovakia to a 1-1 draw and pushing it into extra time. Harry Kane then secured a 2-1 victory, sending England to the quarterfinals to face Switzerland.
After the match, Bellingham, who recently turned 21, posted an excerpt from a speech by former US president Theodore Roosevelt, possibly responding to the criticism the England team has faced during Euro 2024.
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Bellingham shared part of Roosevelt's influential speech, "The Man in the Arena," on his Instagram. The speech begins with, "It is not the critic who counts," and continues with, "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena." This likely served as a rebuttal to the heavy criticism the team has faced.
As per a report by AP, England's team has drawn the ire of its fans due to lackluster performances at Euro 2024. The team was booed by fans and faced harsh remarks, including from former national team captain and current BBC presenter Gary Lineker, who used an expletive to criticize the team's display on his podcast.
Bellingham's social media post showed his pride and determination. "So proud of the boys tonight, we live to fight another day," he wrote. His use of Roosevelt's speech appears to underline his resilience and dedication despite the pressure and criticism that comes with representing England on such a grand stage.
