'Sometimes I deserve it' — Bellingham after England's 4-2 win over Croatia

Jude Bellingham admitted that sometimes he "deserves" the criticism that comes his way after starring in England's 4-2 win over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid star was among the scorers and, after the final whistle, took the opportunity to address the scrutiny he has faced in recent months.

He said his focus remains on delivering results for the national team and filtering out external negativity. "Personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us try to win games," Bellingham told reporters.

Bellingham accepted that criticism comes with the job. "I know it’s part of being a footballer; I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it," he added. "Today I think it was nice to try to show people and remind them who I am." The standout performance in Dallas was not just about getting his name on the scoresheet.

England, Dallas

jude bellingham, england, croatia, world cup, 2026, real madrid, dallas, criticism, goal, national team