Jude Bellingham was born for the big stage and already looks an England leader


The eras of modern England have inevitably been dominated by the individuals around whom the greatest drama always seemed to unfold: David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and now, ever more, Jude Bellingham.

The new young king of the English game is still something of a closely-guarded secret – barely an interview yet, or even his first open press conference for the England team, but if you have watched him perform it is hard not to discern his character. He plays on the edge, with a clear sense of what he can do. He tells his opponents what he thinks of them – good and bad. He is always ready to offer an opinion to the referee, and given how much he is fouled, there is plenty of scope for that.

His equaliser with England’s last touch of the game was a suitable crowning moment for yet another engrossing Bellingham evening. He ran back into his own half from the Belgium penalty area in celebration with his team-mates pursuing him, and as a motif it felt appropriate. No Harry Kane for these two games and so this young England team thrown together from among the survivors of a major injury crisis, fell in behind a new leader.

Bellingham took the 95th minute equaliser beautifully, a composed first touch from James Maddison’s astute flick back and then a calm side-foot into the corner while all around him was action. He had skied a first half chance, and headed another well wide after the break, but here he was, ready for the main act. Seconds earlier, he had won England’s final corner with a dribble and shot. As the ball was set out by the corner flag, Bellingham had his hands on his knees, staring straight ahead. He looked exhausted. Still, there was energy for one last moment.

That is all part of what makes Bellingham interesting. It feels like he was born for the big stage and, given there was such a long drum roll to the launch of the prodigy’s career, so there was plenty of time for him to lose his nerve. He has never looked like doing so. At 20 years and nine months old he already has 29 England caps and three goals. It is an astonishing total of senior caps for one so young. Only four behind the prodigy of all prodigies, Rooney, at the same age.

Bellingham rescued a draw for England with the last kick of the game – Shutterstock/Andy Rain

It would also be right to say that, judging by his post-match remarks on Channel 4, Bellingham has a fairly developed view of the vicissitudes of playing for England. “I know the rubbish we would have got if we had lost two games on the bounce,” he said. The sense of foreboding at the likely reaction to home defeats is indeed an inheritance that is passed on from one generation of England players to the next, although in this case it was misplaced.

In spite of the errors from what was an improvised defence, there was much good in this England performance. The attacking part of the side featuring Bellingham, as well as Ivan Toney, Jarrod Bowen and then Phil Foden – as he came into the game after half-time – was impressive. That kind of attacking flair can change the mood entirely.

“I know everyone will be negative about it,” Bellingham said, “but you have to take these games for what they are and use the positives and learn from the negatives.” That might be the weight of history sitting heavy on young shoulders. He was closer to the mark when asked for some perspective on these games and explained how a different team had been built out of Gareth Southgate’s original, injury-afflicted plans.

As for the rest – there was an admonishment for Belgium’s combative Everton midfielder Amadou Onana until at the final whistle. Bellingham finally cut the tension with a placatory hug. Managing referees in tournament football is a subtle art Bellingham will have to learn. Too few of his England predecessors ever did. Southgate would say later that he was sure tournament games will be refereed differently, and likely to the benefit of players like his No 10.

“Jude, of course, is the headline,” Southgate conceded, “that competitive spirit, that desire not to lose, the desire to win, was decisive in getting the late goal.”

It is that attitude which propels the young man forward – an absolute assurance that he belongs here at the centre of the England team, or at the heart of Real Madrid. If one had to summarise his short, remarkable career up to this – yet another significant goal scored – it is that he has never looked anything less than ready for the big games and the big moments. They keep coming.

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