Controversial referee for England vs Netherlands, BBC on ‘Misstiano Penaldo’

Awkward

Alex Crook and Jim White have been talking about their interaction with Jude Bellingham at the England hotel in Dusseldorf before the Switzerland game.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the duo revealed they saw the Three Lions star and praised him for his performances at Euro 2024 and his overall year.

However, the Real Madrid ace was having none of it.

Crook said: “You bumped into Jude Bellingham at the hotel before this game and you said you’ve been great in this tournament so far.

“And he said to you, you don’t mean that. I thought that was a really strange reaction from someone who scored a couple of really big goals for England, who’s had nothing but praise for what he’s done at Real Madrid this season.

“Why have the players built up in their head that we’re all against them? Well, that simply isn’t the case.”

White followed up, and said: “Alex was beside me. I said, you’ve done brilliantly, Jude, meaning over the season at Real Madrid, and even now getting that goal against Slovakia. And he has. He has done so well.

“But he wouldn’t have it.”

Certainly, it’s interesting that Bellingham wouldn’t believe what he was being told.

Of course, there has been criticism for the Three Lions at Euro 2024, but if it wasn’t for Bellingham’s overhead kick, England would be out.