Jude Bellingham got England off to the perfect start at Euro 2024 with the Three Lions’ opening match-winning goal – and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was quick to join him in celebrations.
Gareth Southgate’s side took on Serbia, a nation they had never played before, to begin Euro 2024 in Germany. It was a nervy affair at FC Schalke 04’s Veltins Arena, but in the end, Bellingham’s 13th-minute header was the difference.
As the Real Madrid man wheeled away in celebration, he was quickly joined by compatriot and Liverpool vice-captain Alexander-Arnold. After the 20-year-old’s strike, he was pounced upon by all of his team-mates and then produced his trademark arms stretched out wide celebration.
Once they had all cleared, the Reds’ No.66 stayed on the prolong things with something evidently rehearsed – facing each other they both got down on one knee and covered their faces with one hand.
Asked by BBC Sport the meaning behind it afterwards, Bellingham clarified: “When we play wolf, one of the staff loves that face, when he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. That was a little celebration for the wolf crew.”
When the England pair first struck up their friendship, Bellingham was a Borussia Dortmund player and heavily linked with a transfer to Anfield. In recent times, the script has flipped somewhat with the Birmingham City academy product since moving to Real Madrid, and as Alexander-Arnold’s contract is expiring next summer, it has been speculated he could be swayed by his national team-mate to move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
But for now, Liverpool’s 25-year-old has helped his country get off to a winning start in the European Championships, completing 69 minutes in midfield before being substituted for Conor Gallagher. Reds team-mate Joe Gomez was an unused substitute.
