Jude Bellingham has admitted England ’s performances have been below-par - but says they have a “great opportunity” to put it right against Slovakia.
Real Madrid star Bellingham did warn though that Slovakia - 45 in the FIFA rankings - will be difficult opponents in their last 16 showdown in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday. England face Slovakia as one of the best third-placed teams and Bellingham says sometimes it can be easier to play bigger nations if they come out to attack.
Bellingham was talking on the FA’s Lions’ Den show but had just got out of bed and did not know England’s opponents when the host Josh Denzel. “I didn’t know until you just said…”
Three Lions midfielder Bellingham then continued: “You’re always going to have tough games at this point of the tournament. People will obviously look at Slovakia and think it's going to be an easy game, it's definitely not the case.
“They'll pose a different kind of threat, it's a different kind of team to break down. Sometimes when you play the nations that come at you a bit more, it's more open. It'll be an interesting game, it's one that we're confident we have enough in the room to win.
“I know the performances haven't been as good as they can be in the first three games but it's a great opportunity for us to get back to the level we need to be at.”
England are now in the more favourable half of the draw, away from the likes of Germany, Spain, Portugal and France. They will be red-hot favourites to beat Slovakia and then would be expected to reach the final as the fixtures look to be kind again for Gareth Southgate.
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However, England have not hit form yet after a disappointing Group campaign saw them manage just two goals in three games, they only beat Serbia and were held by Denmark and Slovenia.
That has given England a brutal reality check and, from being pre-tournament favourites, they have struggled to convince. But Trent Alexander-Arnold says it is important to “draw on experience” from previous tournaments when they have got better as it has drawn on.
Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold also says that England’s slow start has not stopped the players believing they can go all the way. Talking about drawing on experience, Alexander-Arnold said: “Yeah, you have to. As players, it'll be silly for us to come out here without the thought of winning the trophy in our head. It's something you have to have. It's something you have to use as motivation.
“That’s where we want to take this country to. We want to help in whatever way we can, be influential and help the team win. Throughout the whole team, there's a lot of winners at all different levels, ages and experience. We have to draw on it. We've been through it together as a team in different competitions. Now we need to put it together here.”
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