Jude Bellingham has taken a page out of the Cristiano Ronaldo playbook in how he is handling criticism at Euro 2024, according to the Portuguese player's former Manchester United teammate Wes Brown.
After labouring through the group stage in Germany, England were on the brink of elimination as they trailed Slovakia deep into stoppage time in Sunday’s last-16 clash, before Bellingham produced a sublime overhead kick to force extra-time, where a Harry Kane goal would book a quarter-final against Switzerland.
The narrow win came amid widespread criticism of the Three Lions’ performances and tactics across the media, while questions were also being asked of Bellingham’s attitude.
Former Germany international-turned-pundit Christoph Kramer warned that the 21-year-old "has to be careful overall that he doesn't start getting too cocky at such a young age”.
Bellingham’s sensational goal against Slovakia was his second of the tournament and former England and Manchester United defender Brown says the Real Madrid man’s attitude reminds him of Portugal icon Ronaldo.
"I don't think it is arrogance, I just think it is confidence,” he told the Euro Thrash podcast. “Cristiano Ronaldo had the same thing. He would get a lot of stick early on and he would come in the next day and be like 'ok, I will prove them wrong'.
"He knew he was going to make mistakes but ultimately would focus on what he's doing regardless of a missed chance, missed tackle. He would say, 'This is football and I am just going to get better and better'. Jude shows that. He also shows his frustration at times because he knows he is capable of doing something like that. He's not been in every game, he's not been in every moment and for me, but without Jude's goal, we're out."
Next up for England is a quarter-final clash against a Switzerland side that saw off Italy in the last-16 on Saturday.
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