A new angle has emerged of Jude Bellingham’s clash with Argentina’s stars after England’s heartbreaking exit from the World Cup.
Bellingham was at odds with Valentin Barco, who did not even play in the match, in the aftermath of England’s late collapse and 2-1 defeat in Atlanta.
It was clearly an emotional time for Bellingham, who has been one of the best players of the World Cup with six goals, and stood alone after the final whistle.
Bellingham’s scrap was caught on television and now a new angle from high above has emerged, captured by a journalist from Spanish outlet Diario AS.
In the build-up to the flashpoint, one Argentina player consoled Jude before a group huddled near him.
Barco then turned his head to say something – it wasn’t clear towards who or in which language – and shortly after, Bellingham seemed to snap.
Jude Bellingham clashed with Argentina substitute Valentina Barco after the semi-final
He was also at loggerheads with defender Nicolas Otamendi as other players tried to stop them
Bellingham appeared to initiate the conflict by slapping Barco on the back of the head
He went over to Barco, who plays for Strasbourg, and slapped him on the back of the head.
The full-back then turned around and pushed Bellingham with tempers flaring. Nicolas Otamendi also came over and gave the England man a shove.
Several Argentinian players attempted to act as peacemakers, but it looked as if, even when they were separated, that Bellingham and Otamendi wanted more head-to-head action.
This came on the back of a highly passionate and rather thuggish game, so it is understandable that tensions were running high.
Ultimately, Argentina remained the calmer side when the going got tough. England took the lead via Anthony Gordon on 55 minutes, but quickly sat off, inviting pressure.
That, and the defensive substitutions made by Thomas Tuchel, proved to be England’s undoing.
Enzo Fernandez struck a peach of a strike from outside the area after 85 minutes, before Lautaro Martinez broke English hearts with a header two minutes into stoppage time.
Bellingham, who has been so brilliant throughout the tournament, appeared pained at that. In seeming frustration at Jordan Pickford, who produced a number of impressive saves, he looked to the sky, stretched out his arms, and appeared to say: ‘It’s in the middle of the goal.’
Tuchel concluded to BBC Sport: ‘We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances.
‘We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots. We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.
‘Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help. We stayed in our 4-4-2 but we became passive, more and more passive.
‘We couldn’t win any balls, we couldn’t keep the ball so I think it was not a structural problem, we changed nothing. But the match changed completely.’
Harry Kane said: ‘I’m gutted for the boys, the team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game for the vast majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to try and hold on. At this level that’s not enough. Just gutted as we worked so hard to be here and the boys gave every last bit of sweat, blood, and tears.
‘We struggled to get pressure on the ball. Frist half, start of second half, we pressed well and put them under pressure. After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man-for-man, it was wave after wave. lads were putting blocks in but it wasn’t enough.
‘The boys are ready for any moment. When we went ahead, the messaging was to go again and get another goal. Once they scored their two goals, it was to try and find something but we couldn’t get the momentum.
‘We had a lot of good moments in this tournament, a lot of good games. We’re close, we just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament. thee tournaments take it out of you, so much effort and pressure and mentality. We’re missing that final piece.’
Dan Burn added: ‘Absolutely gutted. I thought we had the gameplan pretty well for the majority of it. But obviously, when we scored, we went a bit passive and dropped off and were ultimately punished for it.
‘We probably conceded too many chances and if you do that, they are going to get goals. Disappointing from us. We have defended games better and seen them out. When you get that close to the World Cup final, that hurts.’
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