England fans have singled out an ‘overrated’ ace who ‘ghosted’ in the Three Lions' leggy World Cup performance in a 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday night. Just a week on from their convincing, free-flowing attacking display over old foes Croatia, and Thomas Tuchel's side looked completely different.
Indeed, for much of the 90 minutes in Boston, they looked to play with the shackles on, with much of the action being stuck in midfield, being lost and won without any real sustained threat any further up the pitch. Whether the heat had played It's part or not, onlookers were quick to take note of certain players that weren't pulling their weight in the pursuit of ending a 60-year trophy drought.
Heading into the tournament, the harsh spotlight was on the omissions of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. By the end of the second match, questions are once again being raised by those bold decisions made by their manager, with Jude Bellingham being a passive presence in the midfield battle.
England Player Labelled 'Most Overhyped Player on Planet' After Ghana Limp
Among the first to come off in a host of changes made by his manager halfway through the second-half, it is Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham who has been singled out for criticism by England fans.
"Jude Bellingham is an overrated, hotheaded glory hunter. So many chances missed with his stupid double touch. Just strike the ball man. Get him off for the second half," one X user said at halftime. Elsewhere, another added, pretty sensationally:
"Jude Bellingham is having one of the most embarrassing performances in history."
A third wrote: "Jude Bellingham faces a functioning midfield pivot of Partey and Sibo and, once again, ghosts," as a fourth continued: "Bellingham has to be the most overrated, overhyped average player on this planet!"
Elsewhere, a fifth concluded: "Bellingham struts around the field with the arrogance of Cristiano Ronaldo and the ability of Joe Allen."
The former Arsenal midfielder was denied the chance to play in Ghana's World Cup opener last week due to his upcoming court case.
England's Chances of Topping Group L Take Big Hit
For the fourth tournament in a row, England have drawn their second match, which immediately brings the mood from a positive opener down. More importantly, though, it means their chances of finishing the group stage top has now taken a big hit ahead of a crunch tie vs bottom-placed Panama.
But they can still feel confident of their chances given that Ghana must still get past Luka Modric and a Croatia side that has struck a perfect balance between old and new ahead of their trip to the USA, Canada and Mexico. Currently, England and Ghana are level on four points, with Tuchel's side ahead by one goal difference.
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Transfer News & Rumours