Sport

Not for the first time, Jude Bellingham is dragging England through another tournament

When England needed someone to step up and take control of another World Cup group game drifting away from Thomas Tuchel’s team, Jude Bellingham obliged once again. It was the same in the opening fixture against Croatia when the Real Madrid midfielder was arguably the best player on the pitch.

 

Tuchel has faced questions over the performances of his team at the 2026 World Cup so far. England started the tournament well, putting four goals past Croatia in a 4-2 win, but the insipid displays against Ghana and Panama have raised concerns over the attacking capacity of the Three Lions.

 

In Bellingham, though, England have a proven match-winner. The midfielder dragged his team to the Euro 2024 final two years ago, scoring a series of critical goals to keep England moving through the knockout rounds. He has been their ‘break glass in case of emergency’ option through the World Cup group stage too.

 

Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that Bellingham and Tuchel appeared to be on a collision course with each other. Last year, the Real Madrid midfielder was left out of an England squad he was fit for. When asked for an explanation, Tuchel pointed out how Bellingham could afford to adapt his game to suit his national team.

 

Through the media, Tuchel challenged Bellingham and the midfielder responded. Against Panama, not only did the 22-year-old score the opener, he won more tackles and duels than any other player on the pitch. He was the driving force behind England when they needed him most of all.

 

“I’m not sure if it’s a reaction but it is what we want from him,” said Tuchel. “He has been very positive from the first day in camp. He is fully into all the things from him as a team player, and he brings his individual quality to decide football games. That is what you see in World Cups now and what you see from other teams and other big players. He is a key player. And he buys into all the things that we demand of him as a team player. Well done until now. He needs to keep on going.”

 

DR Congo could pose the biggest threat to England at this World Cup so far. The Leopards have lost just one of their two fixtures and showed how defensively resolute they can be by holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening match. Cristiano Ronaldo and co. couldn’t break them down with DR Congo also a threat on the break.

 

This is surely a concern for Tuchel considering the lack of open play creativity in the England team at the moment. Anthony Gordon has failed to make any sort of impact on the left wing while Bukayo Saka still isn’t fully fit going on the lacklustre performances he has produced so far this summer. Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford haven’t fared much better.

 

Harry Kane has three goals in two games, but was desperately isolated in the goalless draw against Ghana when the Black Stars stayed in their low black and asked England to break them down. The Three Lions were simply too slow to make the ball around the pitch and ultimately failed to find the back of the net.

 

Bellingham, however, gives England a different dimension. His mobility, physicality and technical ability has shone through at the 2026 World Cup with the 22-year-old’s leadership qualities also coming to the fore. In a tournament being defined by the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, all of whom are in top form, Bellingham deserves a mention. He’s been as good as anyone.