"Take a sad song and make it better," the melancholy tune accompanies maudlinSelf-pitying or tearfully sentimental. images of beleagueredIn a very difficult situation. Brits. With England's history of humiliating defeats at the Euros, the Adidas advertisement paints a picture of a disillusioned and downcast nation, not daring to hope that this year's team will fare any better than their forerunners. 

That is, until Jude Bellingham makes his explosive entrance, scoring a goal to the tune of Hey Jude's jubilant chorus. He squares up to the camera solemnly as the screen's superimposed text reads "YOU GOT THIS".

Marketing became reality on Sunday, as Bellingham was serenadedTo entertain someone by singing to them. by England fans with Paul McCartney's classic hit after he scored the only goal in England's match against Serbia. The self-avowed Beatles fan was cheered to the rafters as fans uproariouslyIn a noisy and confused way. chanted the famous refrainA refrain is regularly occurring or repeated phrase from a song. in his honour.

The message is clear: England needs hope. But is Jude Bellingham that hope? At just 20 years old he was named the world's best footballer in the Top Trumps rankings.¹ He has been pronounced the standout player in Spain's Real Madrid. There are certainly worse players to place your bets on.

And his big personality is a fail-safe way to win public favour. A keen prankster with a Ronaldo haircut, stories abound of Bellingham's natural charisma and thoughtfulness. When Madrid won at Arandina, he fetched a blanket for a shivering ballboy. Colleagues remember how he used to help load laundry after matches. Old schoolmates remember his attempts to make everybody feel included.²

With England's performance so far being described as "boring", "dismal" and "flat", they need all the personality they can get.³ They got off to a slow start in their clash with Serbia, which had the fewest shots of any Euros game on record.

In this year's Euros, 24 teams will compete for the 2024 title, including first-time participant Georgia. The final is due to take place on 14 July. France is currently the favourite to win the tournament, though pundits are optimistic about England's performance.

Some say that Bellingham is just what we need to rekindle England's love for football. After all, the beautiful game is about more than just scoring points. It is about shared values, pride, love - and we all have something to be proud of in England's star player.

As Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho put it, "football is about joy." But joy does not win the match, and we can only subsistTo maintain or support yourself on minimal resources. for so long on hope. Some worry that the media storm over Bellingham is amounting to a gimmick, one which could jeopardise England's tournament ambitions.

And it would not be the first time a player has failed to live up to the hype. Labelled the 'new Pele', when child soccer prodigyA child with exceptional skill or talent. Freddy Adu became the youngest professional athlete in the history of US major sports at the age of 14, he won a $500,000-a-year contract and a million-dollar deal with Nike.

Adu's charisma, confidence and easy-going personality won him favour on and off the pitch. But his career was ultimately defined by disappointment, after a series of injuries and loans to 13 different clubs over a 14-year span. Some say we should be careful to set store by talent and training over charisma.

Is personality more important than talent?

Yes: You need more than just skills and training to win a match. You need team spirit, encouragement from your supporters, and hope - all of which players like Jude Bellingham provide.

No: Ultimately, football is about winning - and doing so consistently. Personality can score points with the crowd, but it cannot score points on the pitch.

Or... Personality and talent both play a role, but the real winner is training and resilience. The measure of a player's career comes from years of work, and cannot be judged by gimmicky media coverage designed to raise people's spirits.