Gareth Southgate is enthusiastic about Jude Bellingham’s arrival at the England camp, following his Champions League victory with Real Madrid. Southgate emphasized that while Bellingham’s presence is valuable, the team isn’t relying solely on him.
England suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Iceland in their final Euro 2024 warm-up match at Wembley on Friday. Bellingham, 20, is the last member to join the 26-man squad, having been granted additional time off after winning the Champions League.
When asked about Bellingham’s potential impact, Southgate said, “I’m sure he will contribute significantly, but it isn’t his sole responsibility. We have numerous talented players, and winning this tournament is a collective effort.”
Southgate added, “Bellingham has a fantastic mentality and will positively influence the entire group.”
In his debut season in Spain, Bellingham was named La Liga’s player of the season, scoring 19 goals to help Real Madrid secure the title by a 10-point margin.
Despite the defeat to Iceland, Southgate acknowledged the performances of two other young talents in the squad.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka made a substitute appearance after missing significant training time, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer earned his fourth cap following an impressive season.
“It was beneficial to get Bukayo on the field. He has missed much of the training, and we needed to see him in action,” Southgate remarked.
On Palmer, he said, “Cole has had an outstanding season and positioned himself well on several occasions. Although he may have taken an extra touch, his presence in those dangerous positions is promising.”
England’s Euro 2024 campaign kicks off against Serbia on Sunday, 16 June, in Gelsenkirchen.
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