Jude Bellingham looked to angrily mutter, “it’s the middle of the goal,” after Enzo Fernandez brought Argentina back on level terms against England in their World Cup semi-final.
Jordan Pickford could not keep out the Chelsea midfielder’s powerful long-range effort, which came after a cleverly worked short corner, despite diving at full stretch to his right.
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Bellingham was seen looking toward the replay screens inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
During the move, he had been the only England player attempting to close down Fernandez and therefore did not have a clear view of the strike.
However, after seeing the replay, Bellingham appeared far from impressed with Pickford’s attempt to stop the shot.
Bellingham absolutely fuming with Pickford after Argentina’s winner 😭
“He’s got little arms… it’s the middle of the goal!”
The England inquest has well and truly begun. pic.twitter.com/ahJBz0E7l3
— Casual Saturdays (@CasualSaturdays) July 16, 2026
Gary Neville was also quick to criticise the Everton goalkeeper.
Speaking on the Stick to Football World Cup Watch Party, the former Manchester United and England defender said: “Not gone in the corner, that, he’s got to save that. Got to save it. He’s past it.”
Neville had already questioned Pickford earlier in the game for not collecting another effort, saying: “Don’t let him shoot from there. Got to catch that. It’s straight at him. Honestly, it’s going over as well.”
Roy Keane, though, chose to praise Fernandez instead. He said: “What a strike, what a strike that is. ‘Keeper gets nowhere near it, look at the ‘keeper, he’s nowhere near it. It’s the power.”
Pickford was not the only England figure to come under Neville’s criticism. Moments before the equaliser, he observed: “We have stopped playing, we’ve sat back. We’re sleeping, we’re sleeping.”
Keane also insisted Lautaro Martinez’s winning goal had been easy to predict, saying: “I said he was going to score, didn’t I say he was going to score?”
“Martinez was going to score with the header, didn’t I say? It’s all down the right-hand side [to Messi]. What a game. I said Martinez would score. What an option he is off the bench.”
He also added: “Give credit where it’s due – it’s his [Messi’s] weaker foot. We are watching greatness here, I am telling you. We are watching greatness, appreciate it, seriously.”
It was later revealed that Keane had accurately predicted a 2-1 Argentina victory, prompting Ian Wright to admit: “You had 2-1 Argentina…” With a grin, the Irishman replied: “Who had 2-1 Argentina? Me?”
After the match, a heartbroken Bellingham reflected: “I think we can take a lot of experience from this, but it is so gutting. I wanted to be a part of an England squad that finally done it and got it over the line. To be here, telling the fans the same things they’ve heard for years, it’s really gutting.
“I wish I could give one more win or two more wins, but at the moment, my head is a bit fuzzy with disappointment, so I’m sorry.”
