‘The Lions Way’: Jude Bellingham breaks his silence after England’s heartbreaking World Cup exit as star shares poignant message from the squad’s Kansas City bus driver

Jude Bellingham has broken his silence following England’s heartbreaking World Cup elimination at the hands of Argentina, with the midfield star sharing a touching poem titled ‘The Lion’s Way’.

The Real Madrid man was one of England’s standout players, and while he suffered a defeat as harsh as his team-mates in the semi-final in Atlanta, Bellingham broke down in tears with friends and family in the stands after the final whistle.

In his social media post, Bellingham admitted that it was difficult to put his feelings into words, but he used the poem his Kansas City driver shared with the group to express himself.

“I’ve been having a really hard time finding the right words yesterday and for the last few weeks but this is confusing our driver in Kansas,” he wrote. ‘Thank you for the incredible support from back home and to those who spent their hard-earned money to travel to America and get behind us.

‘Let the unity and love we see in our country not end with this campaign. When we are together we can achieve great things… And we will! I love you! (red heart, UK flag emojis).’

An image of the poem was included, and the first line began: ‘The lion boasts not loudly, Nor chases the praise of every crowd. It knows the roar that shakes the night, It is born when fear meets power.

The Three Lions star shared a touching poem titled ‘The Way of the Lions’ that highlights values ​​of spirit and behavior beyond the final whistle

‘The match is not played only with the enemy, The best step is not known by yourself. Before a pass can be hit with grace, the heart must first win its race.

‘For strength is more than speed of riding, Or planting each wedge firmly. Lives within the iron will, To climb steeper hills again.

‘The body gets tired. The lungs become compressed. During the fight, the legs become heavy. But determined minds refuse to retreat, They raise up the weary.

‘Endurance is a faithful friend, it walks by your side until the end. While others obey the command of pain, He whispers softly, “Stop.”

‘The clever mind prevails over the strong who runs in anger all day long. A patient passage, a measured step, will forever defeat reckless haste.

‘The hawk can see the curtain above, The lion wins with unwavering love/From every move, from every run/Where many minds are one.

‘Because tactics are not secret tricks, but wisdom honed in the field. Knowing when pressure works / And when restriction becomes the way.

‘The storm may intensify. The crowd may cry/ The score may still reject the sky. However, none of these command the soul that dominates every purpose.

‘No referee can steal your election, No hostile song can drown out your voice. The world may shake, the night may burn/ Your answer shapes the final turn.

‘England wore the Three Lions brightly, Did not chase the fleeting light of Victory. Instead they sought a nobler reward, To hold their own before the eyes of men.

‘They trusted in the feet trained by years/ They trusted in the minds gained by calmness/ They trusted in unbending hearts/ Even though every minute is nearing the end.

‘A perfect move/A selfless passage/A moment born of countless tasks.

‘The web collapsed/The crowd rose to its feet/Thunder passed through friend and foe.

‘Victory belongs to those who control themselves before the blows/ And therefore have gained a greater name/ Than those who only play the game.

‘The whistle blew/ The competition was over/ The Three Lions work had been won.

‘Victory was the score now/ Always lifting the gold/ But the greatest victory, clearly seen/ Was in quiet self-possession.

‘For the trophies grow dark/And the crowds grow still/Time itself surpasses all skill.

‘But those who rule both heart and mind/Leave fear and doubt far behind/So Walk on the ancient path of the Lion/Carry every burden calmly/With every trial meet the solid and the real/Let discipline be the strength within you.

‘For fortune is not on the side of the loud ones, It does not always crown the biggest crowd/ It often walks/ By the side of the one who wins the hardest battle. Not on the field under the lights/ In the depths of sleepless nights.

‘And when the final whistle blows/ And victory spreads its golden wings/ The truest roar will still be heard/ A soul strengthened, A soul secured.’

The poem was signed by the author – driver Michael Chandler – and dated 15 July, the day England met Argentina.

The poem was written the day of the tie by Michael Chandler, the team’s driver in Kansas City.

Bellingham cut a heartbroken figure in the final minutes of the game as England were eliminated from the World Cup.

The post was commented on by some of his England teammates, including Reece James, Anthony Gordon and Jordan Henderson, and red heart emojis were shared underneath.

Just hours earlier, Harry Kane had shared a similar message to fans, describing the defeat in Atlanta as ‘hard to accept’ and insisting his team would ‘play again’.

‘We were very close to another final, very close indeed, but it wasn’t enough,’ he said. ‘We’ve given it our all over the past seven weeks and it’s hard to come up short!

‘I know expectations are high and rightly so, we’ve been knocking on the door for eight years but we’re missing the final piece of the jigsaw again!’

Kane added his pride in the way his group of players fought throughout the tournament, with Bellingham among those who fought the hardest, helping England get over the line in style against Norway with his match-winning brace.

Bellingham struggled against Argentina, being the repeated target of first-half challenges due to abrasive play from their opponents.

He was pushed to break point throughout the match by unused substitute Valentin Barco; Bellingham hit the Strasbourg youngster in the head from behind, sparking a brief melee involving players on both sides.

It is not yet known what caused the Real Madrid midfielder’s reaction, but footage has circulated showing Barco running onto the pitch after Enzo Fernandez’s 85th-minute equalizer and celebrating in front of the England players rather than joining his teammates near the corner flag.

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson described Barco’s actions as ‘probably the worst example of sportsmanship we have seen this World Cup’.

Barco was also seen saying something to Bellingham before the two engaged in physical interaction.

As for his post-match assessment, Bellingham said: ‘I think we can learn a lot from this experience but it’s very depressing.

‘I wanted to be part of the England team that finally did it and finally got it over the line. And it’s truly heartbreaking to be here telling fans things they’ve probably heard for years.

‘I wish I could say more. I wish I could have delivered one or two more wins. But right now my mind is a little fuzzy with disappointment.’

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