World Cup player‑of‑the‑match awards spark praise from Giroud, humility from Bellingham

Olivier Giroud lauded Bosnian midfielder Kerim Alajbegović after his player‑of‑the‑match display against Qatar, saying he controlled the midfield “as if it were his natural environment,” created chances and led the team when needed. Giroud noted that the victory moves the side toward a possible round‑of‑16 clash with the United States.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham was also named player of the match after England’s 0‑0 draw with Ghana, but he said he did not deserve the accolade, crediting the opposition’s defensive effort. Bellingham expressed gratitude to his family, teammates and the national coach, and highlighted England’s 78.8% possession record in the match, the highest ever for a World Cup side that failed to score.

Both reactions underline the personal humility and mutual respect among top players at the tournament.