Ante Budimir Warns Croatia to Watch Out for Jude Bellingham

Croatia remains wary of Jude Bellingham's exceptional talent, even though one of England's star players has spent more time sidelined with injuries than on the pitch this season.

The 22-year-old's role is a major talking point ahead of Wednesday's World Cup opener in Dallas, where the Real Madrid midfielder will vie for a starting spot with close friend Morgan Rogers. Bellingham missed the start of the season after shoulder surgery and was out again earlier this year with a hamstring injury, but England manager Thomas Tuchel believes he is now in peak condition.

These injuries also saw him miss both La Liga clashes against Osasuna this season, yet Pamplona striker Ante Budimir is acutely aware of the threat Bellingham, and Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford, pose to Croatia. "Regarding Bellingham, he's spent more time injured than fit this season," the 34-year-old Croatian international stated. "Nevertheless, he's an exceptional player. I don't know if he'll play, but he certainly adds extra quality. Rashford is also an excellent player and always capable of making a difference," the Croatian added.

Budimir has netted 55 goals in La Liga over the past three years and, as part of the squad that finished third at the 2022 World Cup, will play a crucial role in the Croatian attack. "I've said before that I'd immediately sign up if someone offered a repeat of Qatar," he told the Croatian Football Federation's website.

"All of us here have a bigger goal, and I hope that with my goals, I can help the national team win and perhaps achieve even more than that. The team from Qatar won a medal, while the current squad... it's a different lineup. Some players who were in Qatar are no longer here, but new quality players emerge every year who can change things. I hope this tournament is successful for us," Ante Budimir wished.