Jude Bellingham found the back of the net for England during their 4-2 victory against Croatia, and after the final whistle, he was candid about his emotions and motivation.

The England midfielder responded to talk of having a “chip on his shoulder” following the Three Lions’ 4-2 triumph over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.

The Real Madrid star scored England’s third goal in the second half, delivering a standout performance under manager Thomas Tuchel that made him one of the team’s most impressive players on the night.

Here’s what Bellingham told the BBC after the match:

On the “noise” surrounding his place in the England squad…It’s nice to put some of the outside chatter to rest and show my country and my teammates how determined I am to help us win matches.

It was a fantastic team display in the second half. In the first half, we had the intensity right, but our passing wasn’t as sharp. In the second half, everything clicked together. Being able to contribute and help my team and my country is one of the greatest honours, and regardless of outside opinions, that honour never changes for me.

On his goal…

It was a brilliant pass from Elliott [Anderson] that set me up perfectly. I took it into the box, and it was a pretty straightforward goal, but the pass was world-class. I’m thankful to him for putting me in that position. It’s been a challenging season at times, but I feel fresh, sharp, and strong now. I’m ready to give everything I’ve got, so it’s great to hear those positive comments.

On whether he arrived at camp with “added impetus”…

Maybe a little bit, yes. I think I’ve got a bit of a chip on my shoulder, haven’t I? And that’s often when I play my best football. It helps me find focus early in the game and set the right intensity.

I understand that criticism is part of being a footballer. I don’t hold anything against anyone who says negative things about me — sometimes it’s deserved. But today, it was nice to show people what I’m really about.

On England’s second-half display…

I was chatting with [Harry Kane] after the match and said that performance has to be our benchmark; that level of intensity and quality on the ball must be the minimum we aim for going forward.

You can accept the first half because we still pressed well and did some things right. But with several players making their World Cup debuts, it’s understandable that nerves play a part. The second half, though, showed what this England team truly represents.