{"id":248979,"date":"2026-06-19T02:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T02:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/i-cant-accept-anyone-saying-hes-the-problem-rio-ferdinand-defends-england-star-known-for-arrogance-as-fifa-world-cup-campaign-gets-underway\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T02:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T02:39:01","slug":"i-cant-accept-anyone-saying-hes-the-problem-rio-ferdinand-defends-england-star-known-for-arrogance-as-fifa-world-cup-campaign-gets-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/i-cant-accept-anyone-saying-hes-the-problem-rio-ferdinand-defends-england-star-known-for-arrogance-as-fifa-world-cup-campaign-gets-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI can\u2019t accept anyone saying he\u2019s the problem\u201d &#8211; Rio Ferdinand defends England star known for \u2018arrogance\u2019 as FIFA World Cup campaign gets underway"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5181151\" data-slug-id=\"2796927\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rio Ferdinand has launched a passionate defence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/england\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">England<\/a> midfielder Jude Bellingham, insisting that he has earned the right to have a \u2018bit of arrogance.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Ever since his high-profile move to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/real-madrid-cf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Real Madrid<\/a>, Bellingham has repeatedly been subjected to criticism, with critics often suggesting that his on-field demeanour leans towards arrogance.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>During Euro 2024, the 22-year-old was branded \u2018cocky\u2019 and \u2018arrogant\u2019 for his choice of celebration after scoring against Slovakia. Bellingham has been criticised not only by individuals but also by the English media.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on his <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RioMeets\/status\/2067502738385129816\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">podcast<\/a>, Ferdinand strongly pushed back on claims that Bellingham has a self-inflated sense of his own worth, stating that the former Borussia Dortmund man worked his way to the top.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cYou don&#8217;t do what he&#8217;s done in the game without having a bit of arrogance, character, presence, and without expecting to be the number one guy because that\u2019s all he\u2019s been all his career since he was 10 years old. Why change him? He\u2019s got this far and become this good and he&#8217;s one of the most integral main players in that team. You&#8217;re telling me he needs to turn it down a notch,\u201d Ferdinand said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cPlease I\u2019m not having it. Yes, you want him to play within your guidelines if you are the manager. But I can\u2019t accept anyone saying he\u2019s the problem. This guy is the only one alongside Harry Kane, who at the biggest moments, his presence gets bigger in the stadium,\u201d he added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Bellingham is currently on international duty with the England national team at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/go\/fifa-world-cup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">2026 World Cup<\/a>. He gave the Three Lions their goal-ahead goal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Croatia.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Bellingham sets new record after featuring in England\u2019s 2026 World Cup opener<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Bellingham reached a new milestone after being named in England\u2019s starting lineup that faced Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. By playing against Croatia, Bellingham became the youngest European player to play in four major European tournaments.<\/p>\n<p>That saw him surpass Germany and Bayern Munich\u2019s Jamal Musiala, who had set the record earlier in the ongoing World Cup when he played in their group game against Cura\u00e7ao. Bellingham made his debut at a major tournament at UEFA Euro 2020, which was played in the summer of 2021. He then featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before helping England reach the final of Euro 2024 in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Bellingham achieved the feat at 22 years and 353 days, dethroning Musiala, who reached the milestone at 23 years and 108 days.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Ezekiel Olamide<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/football\/news-i-can-t-accept-anyone-saying-he-s-problem-rio-ferdinand-defends-england-star-known-arrogance-fifa-world-cup-campaign-gets-underway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rio Ferdinand has launched a passionate defence of England midfielder Jude Bellingham, insisting that he has earned the right to have a \u2018bit of arrogance.\u2019 Ever since his high-profile move to Real Madrid, Bellingham has repeatedly been subjected to criticism, with critics often suggesting that his on-field demeanour leans towards arrogance. 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