Euro 2024: Wayne Rooney airs concerns over 'very frustrated' Jude Bellingham's form for England - 'Not quite right'
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Updated 27/06/2024 at 11:40 GMT
Wayne Rooney admits he is worried Jude Bellingham could end up getting sent off at Euro 2024, because he is "very frustrated" with how the tournament has gone so far. The former Manchester United striker speaks from experience, having been red carded at the 2006 World Cup. He says the England midfielder is "probably not quite right" as Gareth Southgate's side prepare for the knock-out stages.
Southgate 'won't back away' from England fans' criticism
Wayne Rooney believes Jude Bellingham has cast a "very frustrated" figure during England's last two matches at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate's side have endured a frustrating week in Germany, as they were held to draws by Denmark and Slovenia.
A 0-0 stalemate against the latter in Cologne on Tuesday night was enough to secure top spot in Group C.
But pundits and supporters have been queuing up to criticise the Three Lions for their sluggish performances.
Rooney believes Real Madrid star Bellingham is struggling in particular.
“Jude starts the first game well," he told the BBC's Football Daily Podcast. "But I’m sure he’d tell you himself he hasn’t had the best games in the last two games.
"For me, he’s looked very frustrated. I’ve been there exactly the position he’s in, even the game yesterday, you saw him throwing his arms up in the air.
"As a talisman for England and Real Madrid, I haven’t heard him speak. What is the reason for that? As one of the iconic players now for England in the squad, he should be fronting that.
"That tells me that he’s probably not quite right in the tournament."
Rooney burst onto the international scene two decades ago at Euro 2004, scoring four goals in the group stages as England defeated Croatia and Switzerland.
However, he suffered a broken foot in the quarter-finals as Sven-Goran Eriksson's side were beaten by Portugal.
Two years later, they played the same team in the last-eight of the World Cup, also in Germany.
Rooney once more failed to last the 90 minutes though, as he was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo.
That was an occasion when the striker, who scored 53 goals across 120 appearances for his country, let his frustrations get the better of him.
Speaking with that experience in mind, he is worried things could go the same way for Bellingham, who is the same age as Rooney was at the 2006 World Cup, unless performances improve quickly.
“He’s giving it his all, 100%, I don’t think that’s the problem," he added.
"You want players demanding more from their team-mates, and I think that’s what he was trying to do.
"So, it’s not a criticism, it is a compliment in some ways, but you just don’t want that to boil over to the point where he might pick up a silly red card."
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