The midfielder scored two goals as the Three Lions reached the final in Germany but admits that he did not enjoy the tournament due to a "pile on" from critics about his contributions to the team.

Bellingham told reporters: "I lost my smile a lot playing for England after the Euros as I felt I was a little mistreated compared to what I contributed.

"[The] smile is back [now].

"I think it was a bit harsh on me. I felt a bit like the scapegoat. Maybe I felt a bit sorry for myself.

"I felt I contributed some pretty big moments, but it felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me, especially in the three days after the final. It wasn't a nice feeling."

Bellingham will be back on English soil when Real Madrid visit Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday (27.11.24) and he has played down his team's underwhelming start to the season that has left them off the pace both domestically and in Europe.

He said: "In the last couple of games, we’ve started to pick it up again.

"Before that, we’d had a couple of poor results and everyone talks about a crisis, but we don’t really see it like that.

"I think if being in a crisis means you’re four points behind with a game in hand [in La Liga] and then in the Champions League still fighting as well, then it’s not the worst situation in the world to be in.

"As players, you’re always a bit more relaxed about that sort of thing."