Black Country born Jude Bellingham stunned at speed of his World Cup stardom
Jude Bellingham has expressed surprise at the speed of his ascent to World Cup stardom after playing a pivotal role in England’s thumping opening win over Iran.
Black Country-born Bellingham, 19, scored his first international goal in the 6-2 win in Al Rayyan, making him the second teenager to score for England at a World Cup after Michael Owen’s heroics as an 18-year-old in 1998.
Bellingham may have grown used to blowing age-related records since he eclipsed Trevor Francis to become the youngest player to feature in Birmingham’s first team at the age of 16 in 2019.
But the Stourbridge-born teenager admitted on the ‘Lions’ Den’ social media programme: “I always dreamed I would be here but I never thought it would be this early.
“It’s maybe three years since my professional debut and I’ve been given the opportunity to do things that a lot of people haven’t done in their whole careers, and I’m so grateful.
“There’s an element of quality and technique but there’s also luck and trust. To get that trust from managers and players to make me feel so comfortable at this level does make me really happy.”
Bellingham headed England’s opener in the 35th minute of the Group B clash and while he admitted excitement over his latest momentous feat, he has already turned his focus to Friday’s second clash against the United States.
“It is difficult to sleep,” added Bellingham. “I was up all night trying to reply to messages and speak to people about how the game was.
“It was a really nice day for everyone but there is a level of professionalism when it comes to being ready the next day and good to go on Friday, because you don’t get given the World Cup for winning one game.
“We can take a lot of confidence from scoring six goals in any game, but especially in a World Cup. We know it means nothing to win one game, we have to back it up with a good performance against the USA.”
Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Declan Rice revealed how he told Bellingham the World Cup was his chance to shine.
“We have played together four or five times now,” West Ham skipper Rice said of Bellingham.
“I said to him in the tunnel, ‘This is your stage, go and flourish. I’ll be there behind you to sweep up and give you the ball for you to go and do your thing’.
“I know my role in this team. I am there to stand in front of the back four, protect, get on the ball and move it around.
“I feel like we did that really well (against Iran). We stuck to the game-plan and in the end the spaces opened up. You saw the goals we scored with some real lovely play.
“You know you are starting to grow into it and the confidence comes from there. I knew I was going to play in my first World Cup.
“You don’t get that feeling so often. You play in the Premier League every week but this is the world stage. It’s something you never dream of and then you are here. We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. There is still a long, long way to go and we will stay level-headed. First game, first win. We can’t ask for any more.”
