On July 4, former Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann discussed Bellingham’s situation, stating that if the player were to be suspended by UEFA, it would actually be a blessing for the England team, and Southgate should be relieved.
In the UEFA Euro round of 16 match against Slovakia, Bellingham scored a last-minute bicycle kick equalizer, rescuing England and leveling the score at 1-1. During his celebration, he made an inappropriate gesture, leading to an investigation by UEFA and the possibility of a suspension.
Hamann argued that a ban for Bellingham would be beneficial for England: “If Bellingham is suspended, Southgate should be thankful – it could even be a good thing for the team. Without his teammates, he is nothing; apart from two goals, he hasn’t shown much impact in this Euros.”
Despite having a star-studded squad, England has had a bumpy ride, barely making it to the quarter-finals. In the next round, they will face Switzerland.