Bellingham: 'Chip on shoulder' may help return to best form

England footballer Jude Bellingham has said the external "noise" around his place in the team may help him find his best form during the World Cup. Before England's first group game against Croatia, a major talking point was whether manager Thomas Tuchel would select Bellingham or Morgan Rogers as the number 10 behind captain Harry Kane.

Bellingham was chosen to start in Dallas and scored England's crucial third goal just after half-time, with Marcus Rashford adding a fourth late on to secure a 4-2 win. "For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches," the 22-year-old, appearing in his fourth consecutive major tournament, told BBC Sport.

Bellingham admitted it has been a "bit of a tougher season" for him, with an injury-disrupted start to the 2025-26 campaign, his club Real Madrid finishing eight points behind eventual champions Barcelona, and his place in the national team under scrutiny. However, he said he feels "fresh and sharp" heading into the tournament and appreciated supportive comments from teammates like Jordan Henderson, who said Bellingham gives England an "X-factor".

Asked if he has entered the World Cup with added impetus, Bellingham replied: "A little bit — I think I've got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven't I?" He added that it helps him find focus and intensity early in the game. "I know that it's part of being a footballer and I don't hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it. Today, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I'm about."

Bellingham scored in England's World Cup opener against Iran in 2022 and repeated that feat in the 2026 tournament, collecting an Elliot Anderson pass down the right, cutting inside, and sliding a low shot into the far corner. It put England ahead for the third time in the match, having twice surrendered a one-goal lead in the first half.

Working as a pundit for BBC Sport, former England defender Micah Richards said: "Bellingham is a big-game player. Rogers is fantastic as well, but in the moment where you needed him, he comes up trumps and that is the difference."