Bellingham to the rescue yet again as England book date with DR Congo

Bellingham’s goal on 62 minutes, expertly taken without an inch of space, seemed to give some clarity to this England performance. Before that, it felt that many scenarios were running through their minds. The possibility of another ragged siege of a stubborn opponent ending in frustration. Key players, including Bellingham, being shifted around the system within the game. A growing sense that Tuchel’s perception 18 months ago of an England without an identity was no clearer to being resolved.

Then Bellingham scored and the pieces started to fall into place. In a team without Declan Rice, Bellingham had operated as a No 8, and as a No 10, with a speciality in all things dramatic. There was a crucial goal, telling passes, and thrilling challenges. 

It was Bellingham who located a pocket of space on the left five minutes after his goal, and spotted Harry Kane lurking in his Panama counterpart’s blind spot, ready for the cross that he would nod in for the second goal.

This was Bellingham’s game, two days before he turns 23 years old, with 51 caps amassed and now unquestionably occupying the role of the England talisman of the summer of 2026. A man whose every touch, pass, tackle and shot feels fundamental. This is not a team functioning anything like as smoothly yet, although its leading man is in the groove.

It had been hard at times to discern quite what the plan was supposed to be for England. They looked vulnerable to the counter-attack during a first half in which they could not overwhelm Panama, who sensed that a swift turnover of possession would present opportunities. They were right in that regard. Elliot Anderson, by no means a natural No 6, was crisp in possession but occasionally isolated on the counter. 

Bellingham also played deeper than usual in those moments, and he was on the ball more. There was no mistaking the mood of a player keen to run the game, but that also meant that in the heart of England’s midfield they looked underpowered.

Tuchel said later that the plan in possession was to play with six players in the forward positions. “We could have been more disciplined, more aggressive and then in the second half the goal came from that,” Tuchel said. “He [Bellingham] played as a central midfielder without the ball. When we had the ball he played as a [No] 10.”

Perhaps it was always going to be a struggle. Tuchel described a Panama team that closed off the usual channels through the middle and would send out two or three defenders to corral his wingers. “It teaches us lessons not to lose belief and keep on knocking and trust the process,” he said. “I know it is sometimes less spectacular to see that way.”

There are more problems with injuries. Reece James’s replacement at right-back, Jarell Quansah, came off injured shortly before the first goal – “a classic ankle twist” Tuchel said. Both will do well, he said, to be passed fit for Wednesday’s game.

Quansah was replaced by Djed Spence who may well now be England’s default right-back for the rest of the tournament. Win in Atlanta and the route now would potentially take England to play Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in the final 16. The tournament is coming alive and Tuchel can only hope that his team find a better rhythm against opponents who are prepared to risk a little more.

Tuchel played Nico O’Reilly as a left-back who moved into a central midfield position in possession, while his counterpart Quansah made up a back three. That meant there were passing channels from the inside to the outside to the wingers. Anderson was the ball out from defence and at the start of every move. “He is still quite new to the national team,” Tuchel said of the £116m man, “and he plays like he owns the place.”

Jordan Henderson’s late substitute’s role in place of Anderson made the former the first England international to play at four World Cup finals.

England were best in moments in the first half. Back in the starting XI, Marcus Rashford took a ball down on the run with full-back Michael Murillo on his shoulder, with the outside of his right foot. Bellingham also showed his ability to take the ball in tight situations and move it quickly and effectively, often on the half-turn.

The back four – or three as it was in possession – looked ragged. Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa and Quansah did not always move as a unit. There was an opening for a shot for Panama within the first 10 seconds for José Luis Rodríguez – known to friends as “Puma”.

There were 10 men on the pitch when at last England did score just moments after the Quansah injury. Bukayo Saka’s corner was an outswinger and when the ball reached Bellingham he had the arms of Jorge Gutiérrez, the left-sided defender, around his waist. Instead of trying to free himself from the grip, Bellingham took the shot with the pair of them having fought each other to a standstill. It was speared delicately inside the near post.

Bellingham would make the second for Kane five minutes later, lofting the ball to the back post where England’s captain ghosted in front to score with a header. Kane is now England’s leading all-time scorer of World Cup goals, a mark that has stood since 1990 and Gary Lineker’s last of 10 on this stage.

Some very good players have failed to pass it in the interim and so another major record falls to Kane. But even England’s master goalscorer took a supporting role this time behind Bellingham, who looks, as Tuchel said, “in a sweet spot” – although that is putting it mildly.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]