JUDE Bellingham has no concerns that England, who has decided he is its newest hero, will turn to mercilessly hounding him if he does not win tonight’s game.
The striker whose two goals won the quarter-final proving he can do it when he wants to, is confident any failure in tonight’s match will be forgiven by those fanatical about the flag.
He said: “It’s only a World Cup semi-final against Argentina. I’m sure they’ll keep things in proportion.
“That minor pitchside disagreement with Tuchel won’t get blown up into something it isn’t, even if my performance is sub-standard. And no way will my iconic goal celebration be suddenly condemned as arrogant, selfish and blasphemous.
“After all, when has it ever happened that an England hero has come home as a hate figure? Beckham in 1998, I grant you, and yes, Rooney in 2010, Southgate in 1996, and the three lads who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final. But apart from that?
“They’re hardly going to go from hailing me as the country’s greatest hope to telling me to piss off back to Madrid like the overpaid prick I am in 24 hours, are they? They’ll say ‘Well done Jude, you tried your best.’”
England fan Steve Malley said: “I’ve got the effigy all built and ready for burning in my shed. Just need to know whose face goes on it.”
