Euro 2024: England must ‘take pressure off’ Jude Bellingham after dream Real Madrid season, says Joe Cole

Joe Cole says England need to take the pressure off Jude Bellingham ahead of Euro 2024.

Bellingham is coming off an impressive debut season with Real Madrid following his move from Borussia Dortmund last year, scoring 23 goals and helping his side claim the La Liga and Champions League titles.

The 20-year-old is expected to be a crucial player for Gareth Southgate’s side at the Euros, which starts on June 14, but Cole has urged England and the wider public to “remember his age” and not put too much pressure on Bellingham.

“I think it’s incredible what he’s done,” Cole told TNT Sports. “What I will say about Jude, everyone needs to remember his age. He’s an unbelievable footballer, unbelievable character. Let’s not put too much pressure on him.

“He’ll have 10 other great players on the pitch with him with England. He just needs to go out and be Jude Bellingham, that’s it, and not worry about leading, not worry about being an example.”

Cole said England need to avoid putting too much pressure on a young player like they have in the past with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne.

“I wouldn’t even put him up for the press if I’m England and Gareth," he added. "I’d say, Jude come here, play your football, and do whatever you want to do in the afternoon. If the press are moaning then so what? You need to take the pressure off him.

“We do this too often, whether it be Wayne Rooney, Paul Gascoigne, Harry Kane – you know, one player, one player, one player. We’ve got a great group of players, let him do his thing and enjoy himself. I don’t know what he wants to do in the afternoon … just go relax, enjoy, play a bit of golf and just play football.”

Steve McManaman says he expects England to win every match of the Euros group stage comfortably.

Speaking to TNT Sports, the former England midfielder said: “England are going to be favourites for the tournament. The teams [in their group] are going to make it very difficult for them and will play defensively.

"But I think England should win every game to be very honest. And this is not just being an Englishman, England are playing very well, they’ve got a host of attacking options, so I think they should win … quite comfortably.”

He added that he would be shocked if England didn’t top their group, which includes Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.

He said: “I would be very surprised and quite upset if England do not top the group, to be very honest, and give all the England fans something to cheer on going late into the tournament.”

However, ex-England striker Peter Crouch added that the other teams in the tournament shouldn’t be underestimated.

“I just think we get very blinded in our country about how good we are and forget that Portugal’s team is absolutely unbelievable, France, Germany, so many fantastic teams, Belgium," he said.

"Just look at the squads, I think any of those teams are more than capable of winning it and we’re in the mix of those.”

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