ALAN SHEARER SLAMS FORMER LIVERPOOL STAR OVER 'RIDICULOUS' JUDE BELLINGHAM COMMENT

Alan Shearer has called Dietmar Hamann "ridiculous" for suggesting Jude Bellingham should be dropped for England's quarter-final.

The Real Madrid midfielder came into the Euros off the back of a triumphant season, claiming La Liga and the Champions League with the Spanish giants. He's gone from strength to strength with Los Blancos but has been unable to translate that form into the international arena, despite two crucial goals in the competition so far.

The balance of England's team, especially in attack, has hampered them thus far at the tournament and been widely criticised. Bellingham has played in a midfield three, which has meant Phil Foden playing in a wider role.

Against Slovakia in the last 16 the Real star came up with the decisive equaliser, which spared English blushes as they faced an early exit, but the ex-Liverpool man believes the Three Lions would be better off without their No.10 in the starting XI.

Former Germany star Hamann said: "Unless Gareth Southgate changes the team in two or three positions, I see little hope. Southgate is letting things go but he has to make a decision. Between Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham only one can play and for me that would be Foden.

"For me you have to take Bellingham out, Foden in the middle and then Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon on the flanks. And Southgate has to think about what he’s going to do with Harry Kane."

Hamann also claimed that Bellingham "was hyped after his first six months in Madrid, but he has only performed averagely for Real since Christmas."

Shearer though couldn't disagree more insisting that the midfield general simply has to be in the team. He said on The Rest is Football podcast: "There is no way he should be dropped. How can you drop him? It’s ridiculous. Of course he shouldn’t be dropped, he’s got to be in the team."

Southgate has resisted calls to make wholesale changes to his starting XI but the volume has continued to gather as England underwhelm at the Euros. Bellingham claimed after his big moment against Slovakia that the negativity from some is serving as fuel.

England meet Switzerland in the last eight on Saturday.

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2024-07-04T09:31:37Z dg43tfdfdgfd