Gareth Southgate’s strategic decisions in the Euro 2024 final left Jude Bellingham dissatisfied, according to Alan Shearer.
England faced their second consecutive defeat in the European Championships on Sunday (July 13). After their heartbreaking loss against Italy on penalties at Wembley three years ago, Spain emerged victorious this time, winning 2-1 in Berlin with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Throughout much of the match, Luis de la Fuente’s team outperformed the Three Lions, with Southgate struggling once again to optimize his talented squad.
Shearer observed Bellingham’s discontent, attributing it to Southgate’s choice to deploy him on the left side of the attack, contrary to his optimal position. During The Rest is Football podcast. The former England striker commented on Bellingham’s visible frustration and expressions of disappointment towards the bench.
“Bellingham wasn’t pleased. He was positioned on the left again. It was clear he wasn’t happy at all. His body language showed it – arms up, looking towards the bench for guidance. He sensed things weren’t going well, especially with the lack of pressing and other issues,” Shearer remarked.
Shearer sympathized with Bellingham, highlighting how effective England had been with a three-man defense against the Netherlands, suggesting it could have been a more suitable tactic for the final.
“He’s not a left midfielder, so I understood his feelings. It was surprising to see Gareth Southgate revert to a four-man defense. Our best 45 minutes of the entire tournament came when we played with three at the back in the first half against the Netherlands. I thought he might opt for that system again. It’s evident that Foden and Bellingham prefer not to play on the left in that setup.”
Despite Shearer’s observations, Bellingham publicly supported his manager after the match, expressing admiration and loyalty.
“Whatever happens with Gareth, I’ll always respect him,” Bellingham affirmed.
“If he stays, then I’ll be even more determined to win something for him because he deserves it. Sometimes the numbers and statistics don’t lie. He’s been our most successful manager since 1966. So whatever he decides, he will always have my respect and my love.”
Leave a Reply