Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham alluded to the team’s card game Werewolf as they celebrated England’s first goal at Euro 2024 last night.

Following Bellingham’s goal that put England ahead versus Serbia, the teammates fell to one knee and covered one other’s faces with one hand while still facing one other.  After the England team’s match in Gelsenkirchen, 20-year-old Bellingham clarified that the allusion was to the game of Wolf, or Werewolf as it is often known, which the team has been playing since roughly the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  Based on Dimitry Davidoff’s role-playing and deduction game Mafia, which he created in 1986, this card game demands deception and strategic thinking.  It pits the ignorant majority, referred to as the “villagers,” against a small but knowledgeable faction known as the “wolves.” Then, in an effort to prevail, one party tries to trick the other.  “When we play Wolf, one of the staff loves that face when he doesn’t know what is going on so that was a little group celebration for the Wolf crew,” Bellingham told the BBC as he accepted his player of the match award.

England’s Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander Arnold debuted their new celebration during the Three Lions’ 1-0 win against Serbia

The two fell to one knee and covered their faces with outstretched hands.

“It was more of a celebration for the backroom staff who put in so much work every day, and they won’t receive any awards like this or have the moments we get to have on the pitch,” Bellingham said during the news conference held following the game. 

“But we cherish them so much, and it’s crucial that we maintain that environment throughout the competition.” 

 The celebration is thought to have been for Eddie Keogh, the English photojournalist.

The goal came early in what was by no means a flawless performance from Gareth Southgate’s team, as they had to endure prolonged suffering in the second half in order to prevail. 

 However, Bellingham never lacked talent; he was always open for the ball and eager to push the team forward.

The Real Madrid midfielder scored the game’s first goal in the first half, finishing well to head home from close range after making a late run into the box.

Bellingham’s late dart into the box saw him power home a header after 13 minutes in what would turn out to be the only goal of the match

He celebrated England’s first goal at Euro 2024 in his signature way.

His celebration of standing straight up and raising his arms to the crowd has become second nature to the spectators, who frequently adopt the same stance.

But when he celebrated opening the scoring, there was a new one to savour this time.

Following his goal, Bellingham’s teammates surrounded him and he took the customary pose. However, when the team reached the halfway line, Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold performed the ‘wolf’ celebration.

Should he continue his scorching form in front of goal, it may be the beginning of another legendary celebration from the England player.

Harry Kane, when discussing the England camp’s game of Wolf at the 2022 World Cup, said: “There are about 16 or 17 of us that play Wolf and it is a great way to kill some time.” It fosters team unity as well. 

England celebrated the opening goal as a group after Bellingham had opened the scoring

Alexander-Arnold lauded the goalscorer after he was mobbed by his teammates

The Real Madrid midfield player, who also managed a knee slide, was quite happy.

It is difficult to start lying when they insert the wolf card, thus I believe I am a better villager than a wolf.

“There are undoubtedly a few people who can trick people more skillfully than I can.”

‘It’s about being the best liar,’ Declan Rice said. The wolves must deceive everyone into believing they are not wolves, while the villagers must find the wolves. There’s a lot of cooperating, banding together.

The England team seems to have brought the game with them to the European Championships this year, and after coming so close to winning it all the previous three years, they will be hoping that the camaraderie it fosters will spur them on to victory once again.

Following an earlier 1-1 draw between Slovenia and Denmark, the victory moved England to the top of Group C.

The Three Lions’ next match is on Thursday at 5 p.m. in Frankfurt against Denmark, and on June 25 at 8 p.m., they play Slovenia to round off the group stage.