Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic is running scared of Jude Bellingham after tipping the England midfielder as a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Stojkovic, who was a superstar schemer during his own playing career, warned his team that they will have to keep a watchful eye on Bellingham when they open their Euro campaign against the Three Lions in the Veltins Arena.
He reckons the 20-year-old is typical of the kind of talented technicians that Southgate has in such abundance that he has been able to leave Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling at home.
Stojkovic said: “Bellingham is a great boy. He’s a future golden ball winner, definitely. It’s very impressive in what he has already shown in a Real Madrid jersey. He’s young but so powerful. We have to be careful not to give him too much space.
“Bellingham is already a very important player for England. It’s better he doesn’t play!
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“Defensively we have to be very careful with him and we will have to show what we have done in training to stop him. It’s very impressive how he plays. He is very, very young, but he has shown some unbelievable performances.
“It is good for England and bad for us. But we will do our best to control this kind of situation.”
Bellingham in England training on Saturday ahead of the meeting with Serbia (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)England are overwhelming favourites to finish top of a group that also includes Denmark and Slovenia. Stokovic is even envious that Southgate has been able to overlook several players of outstanding ability.
He added: “For any national team coach it’s not an easy job to choose players and put them in the squad. But this English team is really, really talented regarding performances of (Phil) Foden, (Bukayo) Saka, Bellingham, and (Harry) Kane.
“If you leave Rashford, Sterling and Grealish out of the squad you can see how they are strong. This job is not easy.
“England will have a million different opinions, like always. Yes, the team has changed compared to two years ago, but this is a new generation of players who proved their quality in the Premier League and during qualification.”
Stojkovic added: “Some of our players were not even born the last time we participated in the Euros. We have been waiting a long time and I think we deserve it.
“It is up to us to now make the further step. What I can say to the people that love us and support us and that we are going to fight until the end and give even more than the maximum.
“I can see the players are ready and that all the preparations have been completed without any objections or issues. From that side, I am really satisfied. I have healthy players and they are ready to give their maximum.”
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