Jude Bellingham has said England used the "pile on" they have faced from critics at Euro 2024 as fuel to motivate themselves, adding he enjoyed throwing it back "to some people" following their dramatic win over Slovakia in the round of 16.
England have drawn criticism for their limp performances at this summer's European Championship and the backlash seemed set to explode when they found themselves on the brink of elimination against world No. 45 Slovakia in the first knockout stage in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
But in the dying minutes of added time, Bellingham produced an incredible overhead kick to force the game into extra-time, where a 91st minute Harry Kane header completed the comeback for England and sealed their progression into the quarterfinal.
"The adrenaline gets you," Bellingham said after the game.
"It's a combination of a lot of things. Playing for England is an enjoyable feeling but it's also a lot of pressure. You hear people talk a lot of rubbish. It's nice when you can deliver and give them a little bit back.
"It's very difficult when you talk in press conferences and interviews to talk as openly as footballers want to because they're always judged. For me, football, being on the pitch, scoring goals and celebrating is my release.
"Maybe it was a message to a few people. I was very happy at the end, lots of adrenaline.
"You know what I mean by the rubbish. Playing for England should be the most proud moment of your career but often it's quite difficult. There's a really high intense pressure. The fans expect a lot from us regardless of what happened in recent tournaments years and years ago.
"People talk a lot. You do have to take it personally a little bit. We work so hard at this game. We come in every day, we work hard to put on a performance for the fans, sometimes it doesn't go well and sometimes it feels like there's a a bit of a pile on, it's not nice to hear. But you can always use it and for moments like that, it's nice to throw it back to some people."
Bellingham could be heard mouthing "who else?" while celebrating his goal, which Kane later hailed as "one of the best in our history."
England will face Switzerland in the quarterfinal of the competition next Saturday.