Jude Bellingham has downplayed what seemed to be a heated exchange with Lionel Messi during the World Cup semifinal.
Messi assisted on two late goals, helping Argentina come from behind to win 2-1 over England, securing their place in the final against Spain.
A moment in the first half between Bellingham and Messi, where both players seemed animated with their gestures and expressions, drew considerable attention.
Bellingham later clarified, “We were actually discussing a foul. It wasn’t anything serious. I know people love to blow things out of proportion, but it was really nothing.”
“I thought there was a foul earlier, and he said, ‘What about the one on me?’ I replied, ‘You’re strong enough to take it.’ You know what I mean?” he added.
“It was an honor to play against him, and there was no animosity. Being on the losing side stings, but it’s a privilege to compete with one of the greats.”
England emerged from the group stage victorious before defeating Congo DR, Mexico, and Norway in the knockout rounds. If they had maintained their lead from Gordon’s goal against Argentina, they would have reached their first World Cup final since 1966.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s defensive substitutions sparked criticism, and goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez shifted the momentum of the game.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Harry Kane expressed his disappointment: “I’m heartbroken for the team, the staff, and our fans. We played well for most of the match.”
“After taking the lead at 1-0, we seemed to focus on defending instead of pushing forward, which isn’t enough at this level, and I’m truly disappointed.”
“We’ve worked hard to be here. The team has given everything—effort, sweat, blood, and tears—only to fall short today, which is just devastating.”
Kane noted that the message from Tuchel and his coaching staff was to keep attacking after Gordon’s goal, but he felt that England fell back too much, allowing Argentina to take charge.
“After taking the lead, we struggled to apply pressure on the ball,” he said. “In the first half and early in the second half, we pressed them effectively, putting them under significant pressure, which allowed us to control the game better.”
“After going ahead, whether it was them pushing more players forward or us being unable to match them, wave after wave of attacks came. We were making blocks, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.”
“The team was prepared for any situation. After we scored, the intent was to push again and find another goal. By the time they scored their two goals, we struggled to regain momentum to get back into the game.”
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Kane added, “We’ve had many positive moments in this tournament, reaching another semifinal. We talk about being close to the top. We just need to find that last piece to succeed.”
“Tournaments take a toll physically and mentally. We’ve shown tremendous effort and resilience over the past six or seven weeks. We’re just a step away from achieving our goals.”
Press Association contributed to this report.