Jude Bellingham said playing with a “chip on my shoulder” brought the best out of him in England’s opening World Cup win over Croatia.
The 22-year-old scored the vital third goal as Thomas Tuchel’s side opened their campaign with an impressive 4-2 win in the Group L clash in Dallas.
Bellingham missed the September and October camps due to injury and there had been questions over his inclusion in the squad for this summer’s tournament as a result of that absence.
Those were further fuelled by Tuchel’s viral comments last summer - which he later apologised for - that his mother found the midfielder’s behaviour “repulsive”.
But the Real Madrid star was nonetheless included in the squad and he justified his selection, beginning his tournament with an impressive turn on Wednesday.
He told BBC Sport: “It has been a tough season for me but I am feeling fresh and sharp and stronger.
“I have got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. That helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity.
“I know that it’s part of being a footballer and I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it.
“Today, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I’m about.”
Bellingham’s ability to buy into Tuchel’s “brotherhood” also came under scrutiny in the lead-up to the tournament.
There had been significant discussion before kick-off in Dallas of which of Bellingham and good friend Morgan Rogers would start as England’s number 10, with the former preferred, before he switched to a deeper role.
He continued: “For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches.
“It was a great team performance. Second half, we got things right, first half we got the intensity right, but not quite with the ball and second half we put it all together nicely.
“To contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn’t change for me at all.”
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