Van der Gijp's bold wish: England to lift the World Cup

René van der Gijp said today he hopes England will win the WK, hoping that the Three Lions critics will be silenced. He cited the regular "‑gezicht" Jude Bellingham as a prime example of the talent he admires. The update was posted at 22:16 on Vandaag, confirming the timing of his comments. Van der Gijp argued that the English nation is "so obsessed with the sport" and that pundits such as Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand constantly comment on the players. He added that the English trainer "doesn't understand a single thing" – using the Dutch word Die to stress his point. After the quarter‑final, England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed dissatisfaction with his side's intensity, prompting Bellingham to shrug and note the extreme conditions his team faces.

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Van der Gijp also highlighted the pressure on the trainer, recalling Bellingham's 84th appearance and the 34‑degree heat with near‑unbearable humidity. He suggested the coach should know that the player sometimes feels he "can't get any air". Finally, Van der Gijp reiterated his desire for England to become world champions, calling it a "sport‑minded nation" and saying a WK‑winst would be "so nice" for the country. The Dutch commentator concluded with optimism, hoping the English side will achieve the coveted World Cup triumph.