Jude Bellingham motivated by late grandfather as England eye knockout stage

Jude Bellingham says he thinks of his late grandfather during the national anthem as the hungry England star looks to do his family and country proud at the World Cup.

Still only 22, the Real Madrid midfielder is at his fourth major tournament and in line to win his 50th cap in Tuesday’s Group L clash against Ghana.

England are well placed to secure progress to the knockout phase in Boston after Bellingham’s goal just after the break helped inspire Thomas Tuchel’s men to a thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia.

It was a special day for all connected to the national team and an opportunity to take stock as ‘God Save the King’ echoed around AT&T Stadium before kick-off.

“I’d say the anthem is the last chance you get to really be mindful of the people who have got you there and what it means to maybe be from England,” Bellingham said.

“I think about my granddad, who passed away just before my England debut actually, and he was so patriotic. He was an Englishman through and through.

“I do think about my granddad when that moment’s coming, but I also think about the rest of my family, the sacrifices they’ve made to get me to this stage.

“They’re people that I do take the time during the anthem to really reflect on and kind of internally give gratitude to because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”

Bellingham feels the chance to play at a World Cup is “something like no other” and says he arrived in the United States feeling a completely different person to the one that lined up in Qatar in 2022.

“It’s every footballer’s dream to play at the World Cup, and I’ve been fortunate enough to play in one already and now I’m back with the squad for the second one,” the Birmingham talent said.

“A lot of things have changed for the better. I think I’ve matured as a footballer, just as I have as a person. I think I’m a lot more complete now. I’ve still got so much to improve.

“What’s not changed? Changed clubs, new team-mates, different philosophies, a few coaches, won a few things as well, so I’ve got the appetite now.”

Bellingham has lifted the Champions League and LaLiga since swapping Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid 18 months after falling just short in Qatar, extending England’s wait for silverware.

Sir Gareth Southgate’s side were narrowly beaten by eventual finalists France at the 2022 World Cup before going on to lose a second successive European Championship final.

“I think being at a few tournaments now has changed a little bit my perspective,” Bellingham told FIFA.

“I think I was always thinking from day one ‘let’s go and win the World Cup’.

“I think we should take it a game at a time, try and kind of beat whoever comes into our path, and usually if you do that, you’ll end up pretty successful.”

The England midfielder continued: “I really don’t take for granted what it means to get called up for my country. Under pressure, it’s always nice to deliver for your team.

“I think it’s always the players who are calm, relaxed, who understand what they have to do, but also don’t get carried away with the atmosphere that normally seem to look a step above.”