Watch: Best England fan reactions to Jude Bellingham wonder goal – but Ian Wright missed it
In this Gareth Southgate era, there have been a lot of memorable goals. Kieran Trippier’s free-kick against Croatia. Luke Shaw’s strike against Italy. Harry Kane’s penalty against France. Add now Jude Bellingham’s bicycle kick against Slovakia. What do they all have in common? An identical beer-throwing and air-pumping Boxpark social-media video which has become synonymous with England at major tournaments.
Wrighty and Gary LOVED THAT! ????????????????@IanWright0 | @GNev2 | #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/fJBEJwTVLF
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024
The first shocking thing about this video is the fact that Ian Wright, a paid ITV pundit for Euro 2024, was not even watching when Bellingham scored. The second is the random bloke mopping the floor. They point to the idea that both had given up and were preparing for full-time. Then there is the resurfacing of the iconic Gary Neville squeal which debuted in 2012 when Fernando Torres scored a famous Champions League goal against Barcelona.
Brixton
There must have been millions of fans around the country shouting expletives about the performance and preparing a Southgate obituary during the hour or so England were behind but celebrated like they had not said such a thing once the goal was scored.
However, not all of them were doing it on national television at the time the ball hit the back of the net and then awkwardly having to celebrate with the rest of the beer garden in Brixton then trying to make up for it by saying: ‘I literally just said they were going to score’. Rewind…no you didn’t.
A pub, somewhere in England
These gentlemen know how to celebrate properly. Do not bother throwing your pint, you have to save that sweet nectar. Instead, just participate in complete carnage. Jump on the pool table, twice. Wrestle your friends to the ground. Shout anything at the top of your lungs. Even swan diving off the pool table is OK, as long as it is done in good spirit. Aggressively pulling down your friends’ shorts? I’m not so sure.
Glastonbury
A penny for the thoughts of the thousands at Glastonbury who were unable to watch the match on a big screen as it clashed with Janelle Monae on the Pyramid Stage. Instead they were forced to crowd around small screens or tune in to radios and I am sure Monae would not have been happy to hear ‘Hey Jude’ being sung by fans instead of the American’s classic Q.U.E.E.N., so they politely did so in the camp instead.
Outside the stadium
Leaving a football match early in disgust is usually a good way of protesting against a poor performance. However, the jeopardy you face is hearing the thousands of fans who stayed be repaid by celebrating a last-minute equaliser to force extra time. Now you face a decision. Take the walk of shame back inside the stadium, celebrate outside, or continue to walk in protest.
