Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrated England’s first goal at Euro 2024 last night with a reference to Werewolf, a card game the team plays.
The teammates knelt after Bellingham’s goal that gave England the lead against Serbia and, facing each other, covered their faces with one hand.
Bellingham, 20, explained after the game in Gelsenkirchen that it was a reference to the Wolf game – or Werewolf, as it is also known – that the English team has been playing since around the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
It is a card game that requires deception and strategic thinking and is based on a role-playing and deduction game called Mafia created by Dimitry Davidoff in 1986.
It pits a small informed group, the “wolves,” against the uninformed majority, also known as the “villagers.” Each group then tries to trick the other to win.
Speaking to the BBC as he collected his man of the match award, Bellingham said: “When we play Wolf, one of the staff loves that look on his face when he has no idea what’s going on, so it was a little bit group celebration for the Lobo crew.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander Arnold debuted their new celebration during the Three Lions’ 1-0 victory against Serbia.
The duo facing each other knelt before placing an outstretched hand on his face.
At the post-match press conference, Bellingham added: “It was more of a celebration for the backroom staff who worked so hard every day, and they won’t get any awards like this or have the moments that we have.” in the countryside.
“But we value them a lot and it is important that during the tournament we maintain that atmosphere.”
It is believed that the celebration was actually for English photographer Eddie Keogh.
The goal came at the start of what was far from a perfect performance from Gareth Southgate’s side as they had to suffer for long periods of the second half en route to victory.
But Bellingham was always impressive, always available on the ball and driving the team forward whenever he could.
The Real Madrid midfielder culminated his performance with a goal in the first half, which in his last entry into the area arrived perfectly to head home from close range.
A late effort from Bellingham inside the area saw him head home after 13 minutes in what would prove to be the only goal of the match.
He scored England’s first goal at Euro 2024 with his trademark celebration.
Fans have become accustomed to their celebration of standing with their arms raised towards fans as they often recreate the same pose.
But this time there was a new one to enjoy as he celebrated opening the scoring.
After his goal, Bellingham was mobbed by his teammates and struck the usual pose, but when the team returned to the halfway line, Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold did the ‘wolf’ celebration.
It could well be the birth of another iconic celebration for the England player if he maintains his excellent form in front of goal.
Speaking about England’s camp playing Wolf in the 2022 World Cup, Harry Kane said: “There’s about 16 or 17 of us playing Wolf and it’s a great way to kill time.” He also helps with team bonding.
England celebrated the first goal as a group after Bellingham opened the scoring.
Alexander-Arnold praised the goalscorer after being harassed by his teammates
There was no shortage of celebrations for the Real Madrid midfielder who also suffered a knee slip
‘When they give you that wolf card, you have to start lying and it’s not easy, that’s why I think I’m a better villager than a wolf.
“There are definitely some who are better at fooling people than me.”
Declan Rice added: “It’s about being the best liar.” The villagers have to sniff out the wolves and the wolves have to lie and tell everyone that they are not a wolf. “There is a lot of teamwork, joining forces.”
It would seem that the game has followed the England team to this year’s European Championship and they hope the team bond it creates can inspire them to win it all, after coming so close three years ago.
The victory put England top of Group C after Denmark and Slovenia drew 1-1.
The Three Lions’ next match will be against Denmark at 5pm on Thursday in Frankfurt, before the group stage ends against Slovenia at 8pm on June 25.
