Jude Bellingham struck for England in their 4-2 victory over Croatia at FIFA World Cup 2026, then addressed the criticism surrounding his place in the national squad with characteristic directness.

The midfielder scored England's third goal of the evening after the break, featuring as one of Thomas Tuchel's standout performers in a commanding second-half display.

Bellingham on the 'noise' around his position

Speaking to the BBC at full-time, Bellingham acknowledged the scrutiny that had followed him into the tournament. "It's good to kind of put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to help us win football matches," he said.

He added that the honour of representing England remained unchanged regardless of outside opinion. "That honour doesn't change for me at all," he said, reflecting on a second half in which he felt the side finally clicked.

The goal itself

Bellingham credited Elliott Anderson with the assist, describing the pass as "top level" before playing down his own finish as a fairly routine effort. "It was a pretty normal goal really, except the pass was top level," he said.

He also noted that it had been a difficult domestic season, but insisted he arrived at the tournament feeling "fresh, sharp, and strong."

A chip on his shoulder

When asked whether he had come into camp with added motivation, Bellingham did not hold back. "I think I've got a bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven't I? And you play best when you're like that," he said.

He conceded that some criticism had been fair, refusing to harbour resentment toward detractors. "I don't begrudge or hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it," he said. "Today, I think it was nice to try and show people and remind them what I'm about."

Setting a new standard

Bellingham was also keen to ensure the second half became a benchmark rather than an exception. He revealed a conversation with Harry Kane at the final whistle: "I said that has to be our standard now; that has to be the minimum level."

He was willing to forgive a disjointed first half — pointing to players making their World Cup debuts on a grand stage — but insisted the second-half performance was the truest reflection of what this England side can produce.