Jude Bellingham has revealed he avoided a World Cup semi-final suspension thanks to his mum Denise. The Stourbridge-born midfielder would have missed England's semi-final against Argentina had he received a yellow card in the quarter-final against Norway. Bellingham scored twice in the 2-0 victory, but his mother's advice was crucial in keeping him on the pitch for the next match.
Mum's Advice Key to Avoiding Booking
Bellingham said: "My mum’s been telling me all week to watch my language, watch my tackles, watch my face, watch my emotions. So, I think she drilled it into me all week about being careful of that yellow card." The Real Madrid star credited referee Clement Turpin for allowing respectful communication, which helped him stay disciplined. "A lot of referees don’t let you do that. So I think when I get the balance right, and there’s a referee who’s willing to listen, it makes it a lot easier," he added.
Psychological Strength Key for Semi-Final
England now face Argentina in the semi-finals, and Bellingham highlighted the team's psychological resilience. "The game was split into loads of different kind of facets... for me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. And this team showed yet again that they can do it, and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have going into the stage of the tournament."
Bellingham's two goals against Norway secured England's fourth semi-final appearance, and his mother's advice ensured he would be available for the crucial clash.
