England midfielder Jude Bellingham has stressed the importance of every squad member feeling valued as the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup opener.
England begin their tournament against Croatia in Arlington, Texas next Wednesday, with the World Cup in North America already under way.
The tournament got started on Thursday as hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, with the USA and Canada also sharing hosting duties across the competition.
Bellingham was part of the England side that reached the final of Euro 2024, where they were beaten by Spain in a disappointing conclusion to the tournament.
The squad, managed at that time by Gareth Southgate, were widely criticised for their performances throughout the Euros despite progressing to the final.
Bellingham previously admitted he felt like a scapegoat for England’s failure to lift the trophy, and has now reflected openly on what went wrong within the group.
“At the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch,” he said on England’s Lions’ Den show, pointing to a lack of connection within the camp.
“I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons,” he added, citing the weight of expectation following strong performances in 2018 and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“We were not playing particularly well so even when we were winning you didn’t get the feeling you were as happy as you should be,” he continued, highlighting the disconnect between results and morale.
Bellingham explained that wins can fade quickly and that the squad must hold on to positive moments, insisting a different mentality is needed this time around in North America.
“Everyone’s got to feel loved and feel a huge part of the team,” he said, emphasising the need for unity across the entire squad regardless of individual roles.
He also acknowledged that the match-winning moment in a World Cup final can come from an unlikely source, making it vital that every player remains engaged and prepared throughout.
England team-mate Morgan Rogers echoed those sentiments, speaking positively about the togetherness he has experienced since linking up with the squad.
The Aston Villa forward, who could compete with Bellingham for the number 10 position, described the group environment as welcoming and easy to settle into.
“We are really aligned and it is really easy and seamless for anyone to fit in the group,” Rogers said, adding that age, background, and club affiliation are irrelevant within the camp.
“Wherever you are from, wherever you play, ages – it doesn’t matter in this group. It is a joy to be here,” he added, reflecting the positive mood around the England setup.
England are chasing their first World Cup triumph since 1966, and Bellingham is determined that lessons learned from Euro 2024 will drive the squad to go one step further this summer.
