Wayne Rooney warns Jude Bellingham not to "do something stupid" as he raises red card fear for England ace at Euro 2024

Rooney, himself once England's great hope, looked back on his own career - which included a red card at the 2006 World Cup, in a column for The Times. He spoke about the importance of Bellingham ensuring he is making smart decisions and not allowing frustration to to cloud his judgement.

Having won La Liga and the Champions League in his debut season with Real Madrid, Bellingham then scored England's first goal at Euro 2024 within a few minutes of the game against Serbia kicking off. But he has cut an increasingly frustrated figure as England laboured through the group stage with draws against Denmark and Slovenia.

Rooney said: "Three or four times in the first half [against Slovenia] he could not hide his frustration. He was turning round to look at others and throwing his arms up. Body language like that sends a message to the fans, to his team-mates, to the manager.

"I've been there. I know exactly the position he’s in. I found myself in that headspace many times in international football, and at certain points in my club career. I just hope the frustration doesn't boil over to the point where he gets a red card or does something stupid and gets himself injured. Against Slovenia, it looked as if he was getting close.

"Throughout this tournament it has looked as if he has been trying too hard, and when you try too hard, you make decisions you don't normally make.

"He reminds me of myself in tournaments where you want so desperately to do well and know you and the team could be playing better, and it gets to you. But don't do something stupid, Jude."

England will face Slovakia in their first knockout game of the tournament on Sunday evening. The favourable tie is their reward for winning Group C, with a fixture against either Switzerland or Italy on offer in the quarter-finals if they go through.