Jude Bellingham appeared to complain about Jordan Pickford after Argentina equalised against England before winning the World Cup semi-final, with Gary Neville also criticising the Everton goalkeeper
06:42, 16 Jul 2026
Jude Bellingham shouted out in frustration after Jordan Pickford conceded Argentina's equaliser against England
Jude Bellingham shouted out in frustration after Jordan Pickford conceded Argentina's equaliser against England
Jude Bellingham appeared to yell out in anguish when Argentina equalised against England and Jordan Pickford was beaten from outside of the box.
A frustrated Bellingham rushed out to try and close down the Chelsea midfielder when Argentina drew level with the Three Lions in their World Cup semi-final. England goalkeeper Pickford was unable to prevent the Argentina midfielder from finding the net with the long-range effort just after a short corner, despite launching himself full-stretch to his right, with many fans and pundits judging he could have done better.
Bellingham seemed to agree after studying replays of the strike on screens within the stadium in Atlanta. He hadn't witnessed it first-hand as he was the sole player attempting to press Fernandez at the time and to block a shot coming in. And fans online watching the footage after England's 2-1 defeat sent them crashing out of the competition believe Bellingham shouted out in exasperation: "It's the middle of the goal!"
Enzo Fernandez scored from distance against England beating Jordan Pickford from outside of the box
Enzo Fernandez scored from distance against England beating Jordan Pickford from outside of the box(Image: Getty Images)
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After reviewing the footage, Bellingham looked thoroughly unimpressed with Pickford. Gary Neville also instantly slammed the Everton shot-stopper, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on the Stick to Football World Cup Watch Party, the former Manchester United and Three Lions defender said: "Not gone in the corner, that, he's got to save that. Got to save it. He's past it."
Neville also lambasted Pickford for failing to gather a shot earlier in the encounter, saying: "Don't let him shoot from there. Got to catch that. It's straight at him. Honestly, it's going over as well."
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Roy Keane, however, chose to praise Fernandez instead. He said: "What a strike, what a strike that is. 'Keeper gets nowhere near it, look at the 'keeper, he's nowhere near it. It's the power."
It wasn't only Pickford receiving stick from Neville, though. Prior to the goal, he said: "We have stopped playing, we've sat back. We're sleeping, we're sleeping."
Keane also found Lautaro Martinez's winning goal unsurprising, stating: "I said he was going to score, didn't I say he was going to score?"
"Martinez was going to score with the header, didn't I say? It's all down the right-hand side [to Messi]. What a game. I said Martinez would score. What an option he is off the bench."
Jude Bellingham dejected after England's loss to Argentina
Jude Bellingham dejected after England's loss to Argentina(Image: Getty Images)
He continued: "Give credit where it's due - it's his [Messi's] weaker foot.
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"We are witnessing greatness here, I am telling you. We are witnessing greatness, appreciate it, seriously."
As it transpired, Keane had accurately predicted the final score, with Ian Wright acknowledging: "You had 2-1 Argentina..."
Grinning in response, the Irishman asked rhetorically: "Who had 2-1 Argentina? Me?"