The overhead kick to make it 1:1 late on against Slovakia is probably one of Jude Bellingham’s most important goals. Afterwards, the youngster made a special celebratory gesture.

England’s world-class player Jude Bellingham has explained his obscene gesture after scoring the dream goal to make it 1-1 in the round of 16 thriller against Slovakia and defended himself against criticism. The 21-year-old Real Madrid professional shared a video via X in which he was accused of making a crotch grab against the opposition bench and wrote: “That was an insider towards some of my friends who were in the stadium. Nothing but respect for Slovakia and how they played today.”

Bellingham had saved the Three Lions from going down 2-1 after extra time in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday with a bicycle kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time. In the video he later shared, he added two smileys to his message: a red X and a yawning face. “You’re 30 seconds away from going home and feeling like you’ve let an entire nation down. And in 30 seconds and with one shot, everything can change.”

Bayern goalscorer Harry Kane then scored the winning goal right at the start of extra time. But the captain wanted to talk less about that and more about his younger colleague’s acrobatic stroke of genius. “That was one of the best goals in the history of our country. What a player he is, he’s kept us alive at this European Championship. He works so hard for the team and in the big moments he delivers,” praised Kane.

Coach Gareth Southgate, whose era was about to end in stoppage time at Gelsenkirchen, also singled out Bellingham. “He’s an unbelievable influence, even though he’s still a young man. He’ll say things and react the way a young man does, but he can decide big games and that’s what he’s done,” Southgate said.