I saw the real Jude Bellingham after England’s loss to Argentina and i | UK | News

After the final whistle blew, Argentine players danced off the field and fans eventually filed out of Atlanta Stadium’s exits. The England team began to re-emerge.

They walked slowly along the touchline in their sky blue tracksuits, their heads bowed and their hoodies up. The march was important; They would see their friends and family scattered throughout one section of the lower floor.

After 90 minutes of intense and ultimately heartbreaking football, the sight of men bursting their hearts out in a previously calm and ordinary moment was striking.

Surrounded by empty seats instead of howling fans, the players looked lonely. As they walked up the stairs to hug their family, it really brought it home; Underneath all the hymns and names on the replica shirts, these were a bunch of normal lads who wanted to be with people who loved them.

While it was touching to see all the actors hugging parents and lifting children, the most impressive image was undoubtedly Jude Bellingham.

England’s number 10 is a true superstar playing for the biggest club in the world. He has the self-confidence that comes with being a generational talent like Michael Jordan.

Indeed, we have seen that cool attitude in the white jersey many times; He was famous for shouting “who else?” after scoring a crucial goal for the national team in the European Championship two years ago.

But slumped in a plastic chair with his head in his hands, Britain’s Superman appeared to be just another guy, another Brit, completely devastated by the outcome.

Of course, the stakes for Jude are higher than the rest of us could imagine. He is the talisman of this side that takes responsibility when things do not go well, as they often do.

While this is supposed to bring some incredible highs, it also clearly has its lows.

Even from 200 meters away you could see how miserable he was. He wiped the tears from his cheeks as his girlfriend patted him on the back, and he hugged both his mother and father for what probably lasted several minutes before being called back to the locker room.

I was really touched when I saw him hugging his mother.

The way he held her was a tenderness familiar to any parent consoling a sad child.

Whether your baby is three or 23, you just want them to feel a little better.

Even in the giant Atlanta Stadium after a high-stakes World Cup semi-final, it was clear there was nothing better than a hug from your mother, even if you were Jude Bellingham.