Jude Bellingham unleashed a furious boot into an advertising board at the New York Stadium to demonstrate the passion that drives the No 10 when England are frantically chasing games. There is now no mystery behind which England player might emerge during these spells of adversity. Bellingham can be trusted to take the game over and dovetail with Harry Kane, a vital relationship on the field that is likely to define this team’s journey.
Bellingham’s eighth international goal came in a precious 2-0 World Cup win over Panama to wrap up top spot in Group L over Croatia and Ghana and secure what appears to be an easier path in the knockout stage. Of Bellingham’s eight goals for the Three Lions though, five have come in major tournaments, showing just how he can elevate his game when others around him routinely shrink.
Yes, it was only Panama, but England were drifting and had spent 51 minutes stuck in second gear as Croatia led Ghana in Philadelphia, knowing an easier run in theory and the morale of advancing as group winners were slipping away.
Adding to his catalogue of goals on the big stage, which includes that miraculous 95th minute bicycle kick against Slovakia at the last Euros, Bellingham settled nerves with the breakthrough before setting up Kane for the goal that saw him surpass Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer (11).
Bellingham had match-leading key passes (4), dribbles (3) and tackles (4), underlining his status as one of the most complete players in the world.
And the contribution confirmed the No 10’s latest player of the match award at this World Cup, a third in three games, even if he only begrudgingly accepted the second against Ghana. The balance between knitting the play together and the ruthless decision to seize the game himself was evident.
The passion from Bellingham, which can occasionally overspill, as seen at half-time against Ghana when Morgan Rogers desperately dragged him away from a confrontation, is admirable and will appease the Three Lions faithful. But it’s the 22-year-old’s composure that shone a light on why discussion over his starting berth, directly against Rogers, was daft to begin with.
That is not to dismiss the quality of Rogers, who has been outstanding for England and operated in tandem here with Declan Rice rested, yet Bellingham continues to show he has an aura on the pitch.
England were knocking on the door for a breakthrough, with the Real Madrid star shrugging off that frustration and outburst at the board after failing to beat the outstretched boot of Panama’s defiant Jose Cordoba. Bellingham then resisted the temptation to scrap with Jorge Gutierrez, who locked his arms around him in an attempt to slow him down and stood his ground to caress Bukayo Saka’s corner into the net.
“He’s the one player who looks like he’s in form, he’s fresh, he’s lively,” Gary Neville told ITV Sport. “These players have set a standard, but I know being a defender, when you’re pressing the forward, to disrupt, keeping your eye on the ball there, it’s so impressive.”
Bellingham then displayed an appetite to settle the contest during another surge. Just like Dallas, Bellingham sprinted deep and in behind the Panama backline. After chopping inside and bursting back towards the byline, he lifted a delightful outswinging cross that Kane could hardly miss.
It has been a trend in his performances in this World Cup and, given Bellingham’s initial position and even his jersey, England’s verticality has come as much through Bellingham as wide players such as Noni Madueke or Anthony Gordon, though Marcus Rashford was bright and stretched Panama with his runs in behind. Tuchel can now utilise him in a deeper role to negate low blocks, which could prove helpful against DR Congo.
“It was another top performance,” Harry Kane told ITV Sport. “He looks fit and sharp, he has the bit between his teeth, to go out there and prove what player he is. It’s fantastic to play with him. The cross [to assist me] shows his quality, his running, tackling, tracking back, He’s the type of player we want in this team.”
Kane also noted how Bellingham thrived in a slightly deeper role with a license to move Panama around the pitch.
“Jude’s a fantastic player with and without the ball,” Kane added. “He’s so hard to track, he’s strong and physical, sometimes you see the best out of him in that role, Morgan was a bit between the lines, while Jude and I were running a bit more in the depth, but wherever he plays, I think he’s effective.”
In a tournament of matches increasingly settled by swings in momentum, Bellingham has emerged as a deadly weapon for Tuchel. Even if England remain dysfunctional, with Bellingham there is now a chance.
