Jude Bellingham’s rapid rise to the top continued as he helped England seal qualification for the 2024 European Championships with a 3-1 victory over Italy.
It was well beyond full-time and maybe even his bedtime!
Jude Bellingham was laughing and dancing away on the pitch well beyond the full-time whistle, like a child who was given an extra hour on the PlayStation because his friend had come over.
He grinned from ear to ear as ‘Sweet Caroline’ blared out from the speakers and orchestrated the delighted crowd as if he were the main character in the school Nativity show.
Christmas had come early for the 83,194 inside Wembley Stadium as they were gifted a dominant display from the Birmingham boy wonder.
Bellingham was taking in every second before he had to head down the tunnel and back to reality, but in fact, this was the reality… HE is the reality.
The 20-year-old midfielder has the world at his feet and once again proved the catalyst for his team to go on to victory.
This time Bellingham was emblazoned in the white of his nation England rather than his club Real Madrid but that did not prove an obstacle as he went on to earn his ninth Player of the Match award in just 13 games this season for club and country.
Jude’s thought …
When quizzed on his form the midfielder responded: “I’m just loving playing football at the minute!
“Every time I’m on the pitch I just enjoy myself, I’m feeling really free and the management at both club and country are giving me the freedom to just play how I see it.
“I know that defensively I have to keep my discipline but offensively too I know I can offer a lot all over the pitch and I’ve got that freedom to do it so I’m loving it.”
Freedom …
That freedom was on full display as the Real Madrid superstar showcased several elements of his game to help drag England back from a one-goal deficit against the reigning European Champions Italy.
Following Gianluca Scamacca’s first-ever goal for the Azzurri, Bellingham took the game by the scruff of its neck to wrestle the hosts back into control.
A mixture of guile and power saw the English midfielder deftly flick into the path of Harry Kane, before receiving the return ball and breaking through the last line of defence to earn a penalty for the hosts as Giovanni Di Lorenzo desperately slid in.
Jude’s desire
Kane duly slotted away the penalty to draw England level going into the break.
Bellingham’s close link to the striker played a key role in winning the penalty and the midfielder has played in a slightly more advanced role this season since his move away from Borussia Dortmund and it is a role that the 20-year-old believes is bringing the best out of him.
“The system I had been playing probably didn’t maximise all my strength,” said the Englishman.
“I’ve really been working on my timing and getting into the box., so as I’m arriving, I’m arriving with a different kind of hunger.
“For me, it’s all about winning games and that’s achieved by affecting the opposition’s goal as much as possible.
“Of course, I want to come deep, start attacks and play-make but I also understand that when there is space in behind then there’s no point trying to look nice on the ball.”
The 20-year-old exhibited all of that in the build-up to England’s second goal.
Starting from the edge of his own box, Bellingham slid in to dispossess Nicolo Barella, but bounced straight to his feet to offer the Three Lions an outlet for a counter-attack.
A straight driving run from inside the defensive third saw the midfielder nonchalantly flick the ball over the head of Giorgio Scalvini and gallop into enemy territory.
Yet the brilliance did not stop there and after finding Marcus Rashford out wide the Real Madrid midfielder did not stop to admire his work.
Instead, Bellingham read the play to perfection and unselfishly continued his run into the box and out to the left channel to attract the attention of Destiny Udogie, allowing Rashford to cut inside and drill into the bottom corner.
As the Manchester United winger wheeled away in celebration towards the right corner flag, the Real Madrid man was still running…
Into the opposite corner where Bellingham’s diversion had led him having run the full length of the hallowed turf.
A series of fist pumps and cheers ensued as the crowd closest to the midfielder had their moment to marvel in his magnificence.
At such a tender age, the midfielder’s understanding of the game and unselfishness are truly beyond his years.
The dream move
Bellingham felt his £88m summer transfer to Los Blancos has helped fast-track his game and said: “When you are around those kinds of mentalities and players of that quality every day you get to see them in the gym, how they prepare for games, the physio work they get done.
“It just takes you to a new level mentally, physically and technically.”
Following that move the midfielder even acknowledged that the demands and expectations of him have been raised despite his age.
“I know that now with the big transfer, the fact is I have to deliver,” said Bellingham.
“I have to be the one that tries to decide games whether it’s with a goal or assist or a match-winning moment or performance.”
The English midfielder was indeed that spark and once the Three Lions took the lead, the outcome never seemed in doubt.
Kane added gloss to the scoreline with a fine individual goal to make it 3-1 and take his international tally to 61.
Having played a key role in two of the three goals, Bellingham came off in the 85th minute to a standing ovation from the home fans.
Southgate’s Delight
England manager Gareth Southgate was also keen to heap praise on the 20-year-old’s demeanour.
Southgate said: “The way he carries himself and the way he plays on the field, he has certainly been a catalyst for the team.
“The power in his play gives us something extra in tight situations.
“That belief and willingness to engage with the crowd are rare traits in a player so young and he has had that since he walked through the door.”
Every young football fan will have dreamed of receiving such adulation while playing in parks, but Bellingham turned Wembley Stadium into his own playground and the love of playing for his nation was clear to see.
He said: “These are the types of football games you want to play in, the fans were unbelievable.
“It’s a pleasure every time I get to play at Wembley in front of them and it’s always nice to perform well too, so I hope they enjoyed it!”
Qualification achieved
The victory saw England confirm their spot at the European Championships in 2024 and the 20-year-old is keen to make the final step with his nation following defeat in the final of the competition in 2021, where he was an unused substitute.
“I’ve not been playing as a starter for many years, I’ve been involved for a few but now I’m more of an important player,” said Bellingham.
“It’s about continuing these performances, winning football games and trying to win trophies.
“We’ve got the ability, talent and mentality to really push ourselves and we should be looking at winning it.”
Before leaving, the 20-year-old was asked about the potential of winning La Liga, the Champions League and the European Championships to which he smiled:
“That would be the dream!”
While that question remains to be answered, one thing is certain.
As the young fans walked back down Wembley Way and prepared for school the next morning, they would have all gone to bed dreaming about the performance of England’s new star.
By Sajidur Rahman (2022 Football Writers’ Association Student Football Writer of the Year)
