Wayne Rooney bluntly claimed that previous England teams simply didn't show up in the same way the current squad does, as he responded to Jude Bellingham's remark following England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup. The famous win over the hosts sealed a quarter-final tie against Norway, with Bellingham scoring twice in the pulsating encounter at the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Match Details
The Real Madrid midfielder struck twice in quick succession during the first half before Julian Quinones pulled one back for Mexico. A Harry Kane penalty then put England firmly in control after Jarell Quansah was sent off shortly after the break. Raul Jimenez also scored from 12 yards, and England were forced to cling on for more than half an hour with ten men to secure their place in the last eight against Norway.
Bellingham's Praise for the Team
Bellingham, who was named Player of the Match, praised England's composure under immense pressure. "Hard to put it all together, really," the 23-year-old said afterwards. "With ten men, defending like we did around our box, and being clinical when we got into theirs in big pressure moments. Maybe in years gone by, and I know especially me watching as a fan when I was a kid, England would have crumbled. But this team stuck together right until the last second."
"The players who came on, the players who started, all of them running themselves into the ground, putting their bodies on the line. That's what this team is about," he added.
Rooney's Response
In response to Bellingham's comments, Rooney did not hold back in his assessment of previous England teams, telling the BBC: "We didn't crumble, we never showed up." Rooney, a former Manchester United captain, made the brutal comment about previous England sides, suggesting they lacked the resilience of the current squad.
Historical Context
It is the 11th time the Three Lions have reached the World Cup quarter-finals. In previous years, former boss Gareth Southgate steered them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, while in 1966 they went on to beat Germany 4-2 at Wembley.
Bellingham's Call for Celebration
The remarkable win over Mexico led Bellingham to urge fans to text their bosses to say they weren't coming in to work on Monday morning. "Have another shot and text your bosses to say you're not coming in tomorrow," he added. "That's about it - my God, if you can't enjoy a night like this, just for one night, then I don't know what it's worth. I can imagine [celebrations in England are] carnage. No matter where you're from or what you do I can imagine everyone is together. That is the thing I dream of, being a part of this England squad, bringing my country together, giving them nights like this that they will enjoy for many years to come. I am so proud of this team. What we have done tonight is spectacular."
