Jude Bellingham feels certain an England major tournament win is on the horizon after their defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final. The Real Madrid midfielder, who said the “crazy” fixture calendar meant he was mentally and physically exhausted at the tournament, believes the squad’s profile offers a near-guarantee of success.
Bellingham was one of seven England players aged 25 or under in the final. He accepts it is incumbent on the men’s squad to secure a trophy and said: “It’s a young team – a lot of potential. I know people will be frustrated that we haven’t delivered yet but I definitely feel it is coming.”
Bellingham is confident lessons from the month in Germany will be absorbed. England were close to extra time against Spain when Mikel Oyarzabal scored. “To be sucker-punched with the late goal, it’s heartbreaking,” he said. “We all wanted nothing more than to make history and to make the people of England proud and we didn’t quite deliver.
“It’s a young group still and it’s really disappointing because at some point we do have to deliver but there are experiences we can take from this tournament … The thing is about this team – and we showed it throughout – is that we’re never going to quit.”
Bellingham will soon begin preparations for a season due to culminate in the expanded Club World Cup in the US next June and July. Madrid have qualified and it means no summer off for him. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the US a year later.
“We sacrificed a lot throughout the last weeks,” he said. “It’s so tough with crazy schedules and then coming together for the end of the season for one last tournament. It’s difficult on the body – mentally and physically you are exhausted. But for our country we wanted to give everything. To lose in that way is really cruel.”
Cole Palmer urged England to draw on the pain of defeat. “The World Cup is in two years’ time – we need to remember this feeling and hopefully push on and try to win,” he said.
