Inggris Imbang Lawan Ghana Jude Bellingham Pertanyakan Gelar Pemain Terbaik

Gelandang tim nasional Inggris Jude Bellingham mempertanyakan alasan dirinya dinobatkan sebagai pemain terbaik dalam laga Piala Dunia 2026 melawan Ghana yang berakhir imbang 0-0 di Foxborough, Massachusetts, pada Selasa (23/6/2026).

Hasil imbang tanpa gol tersebut membuat Inggris kini mengoleksi empat poin yang sama dengan Ghana di grup mereka. Kedua tim dijadwalkan melakoni pertandingan penentu babak penyisihan grup pada hari Sabtu mendatang, dengan Inggris menghadapi Panama dan Ghana melawan Kroasia.

Bellingham ditarik keluar lapangan 20 menit sebelum laga usai untuk digantikan Morgan Rogers setelah kesulitan menembus pertahanan rendah Ghana. Pemain Real Madrid itu mengaku tidak layak menerima penghargaan yang ditentukan oleh pemungutan suara daring dari para penggemar tersebut.

"I didn’t deserve it… it probably should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well," ujar Jude Bellingham, gelandang tim nasional Inggris.

Bellingham menambahkan bahwa performa timnya kembali terjangkit tren hasil imbang pada laga kedua fase grup di turnamen besar. Ia mengapresiasi solidnya pertahanan Ghana yang bermain demi mengamankan poin.

"I had a couple of moments but it was hard to get into the game. I’m grateful for whoever voted, but it probably should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well," kata Jude Bellingham.

Selain performa di lapangan, pertandingan tersebut juga diwarnai ketegangan kecil di pinggir lapangan pada akhir babak pertama. Bellingham terlibat adu mulut dengan pelatih Ghana Carlos Queiroz setelah ia melakukan pelanggaran keras terhadap pemain Ghana.

"Fair play to them. Like always, second game fever with England – win the first one and do well, draw the second. But it’s OK," kata Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham menjelaskan bahwa perselisihan tersebut dipicu oleh protes dari bangku cadangan Ghana yang meminta wasit Saíd Martínez memberikan kartu kuning kepadanya. Meskipun terjadi ketegangan, Bellingham menegaskan dirinya tetap menghormati Queiroz.

"They played for a draw as it would have seen them through. Fair play to them," tutur Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham juga memberikan penjelasan kepada wartawan mengenai tekel yang memicu reaksi keras dari staf kepelatihan lawan tersebut.

"I made a silly tackle, to be honest," ucap Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham mengakui telah berbicara langsung dengan pemain yang dilanggarnya saat insiden terjadi.

"Nothing but a competitive edge for the both of us," jelas Jude Bellingham terkait adu mulutnya dengan pelatih lawan.

Sementara itu, kapten tim nasional Inggris Harry Kane gagal memanfaatkan peluang emas di akhir laga namun menolak untuk bersikap terlalu terpuruk atas hasil tersebut. Dilansir dari BBC Radio 5 Live, Kane mengakui timnya frustrasi karena gagal membongkar pertahanan kompak Ghana.

"Obviously disappointed not to win the game," kata Harry Kane, kapten tim nasional Inggris.

Kane mengapresiasi kedisiplinan barisan pertahanan lawan serta kesigapan timnya dalam mengantisipasi serangan balik Ghana.

"It's a game we knew we’d have loads of possession, we did and they defended well in a low compact block and made it difficult to play in the middle of the pitch, so the game was outside and one v one duels. I think both ends of the half in the first and second half we got some momentum there and chances," tutur Harry Kane.

Kane juga menambahkan bahwa pertandingan melawan tim yang bertahan total selalu menjadi tantangan berat bagi para penyerang.

"It's a game we could've walked away 1-0, 2-0 and moved on. It was never going to be the prettiest game because of the way they played. Credit to them, they defended well, dangerous on the counter-attack.

Overall, we defended that pretty well. They didn't have many chances. We take the point and move on," jelas Harry Kane.

Meskipun gagal mencetak gol dari peluang yang didapatkannya, striker Inggris tersebut menyatakan tetap percaya diri menghadapi laga berikutnya.

"These games are tough; I've played in these types of games, a lot of us have played in these types of games. Sometimes you need an early goal to open up the match, for them to come out but as the game goes longer at 0-0, they believe more and defend more with their heart," kata Harry Kane.

Kane menegaskan bahwa posisi Inggris saat ini masih cukup bagus di klasemen grup.

"We still had chances towards the end there. I'm backing myself to score more often than not. One of those but I've lived the striker life long enough to know they're not always going to go in. I back myself nine times out of 10, but it just didn't fall my way today," ujar Harry Kane.

Inggris kini mengalihkan fokus sepenuhnya untuk menghadapi laga penutup grup melawan Panama.

"We wanted that second win today, but it weren't to be. But overall we're in a good position and we look forward to the next one," pungkas Harry Kane.