‘It is going to be difficult in the heat’ – Bellingham says conditions will be tough for England | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham says England may not be able to play the way they want to in the World Cup, due to the heat and pitches.

England beat New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly a week before the start of the tournament courtesy of a Harry Kane goal, but Bellingham said after the game that England might have to review their game plans.

Speaking to ITV, the midfielder said: “I think we are going to have to manage the game well at times. We want to play that full force, high pressing, hight tempo football but it is going to be difficult in the heat and with the pitches.

“But we adjusted well in both halves. All the players made a great effort to get what we wanted out of the game before the tournament starts. We are pleased.”

Kane scored his goal just before half-time, and said that England mainly wanted to learn the conditions they would be playing in once the tournament gets underway for them on June 17 against Croatia.

“Good win. The heat is what we are here for to prepare for the tournament. The pitch was not great to be honest. Really hard to play the way we want to play. But that is why we are here. To adapt to it.

“We were playing against a team who had a good low block. In the end we could have scored a couple more but we will take the win and we know we are here for preparation more than the result.”