'Absolutely dead' - Jude Bellingham makes worrying admission as England prepare to face Slovakia in last-16 of Euro 2024

Hopes were high for Bellingham after an outstanding season for Real Madrid and putting in a virtuoso goalscoring display in England's 1-0 win over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener. However, the 20-year-old struggled in the subsequent match against Denmark and that continued versus Slovenia, too. Now, the former Borussia Dortmund man has admitted to being physically spent in that 0-0 draw on Tuesday.

He said on the Football Association’s Lions’ Den show: “You definitely draw on them [the England fans] for energy towards the end of games. I felt like in the last game [against Slovenia], I was absolutely dead. But you hear them singing, hear them chanting and you can play at a level that's not our best, it's normal, it can happen. But I think the important thing is, when you're wearing this badge and you're representing those fans, is that you don't give up and I think they're a constant reminder of that.”

Bellingham proved to be one of the best players in the world in 2023-24 after scoring 23 goals, bagging 13 assists and leading Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory. However, it is clear the ex-Birmingham City star is not having the impact he and many others would have hoped in recent games and after this admission, England boss Gareth Southgate may have a selection decision on his hands.

Southgate and England fans will hope Bellingham - who joined Madrid from Dortmund last summer for a fee that could rise to £108 million ($133m) - is back to his best for their crunch Euro 2024 clash against Slovakia on Sunday in the last 16 of the competition.