In Croatia, England’s 7-0 win on Saturday became a night shaped as much by Jude Bellingham’s authority as by the scale of the scoreline. The Real Madrid midfielder scored once and supplied three assists as Thomas Tuchel’s side swept aside their hosts, with Harry Kane scoring twice and Barcelona’s Gordon also finding the net.
Bellingham at the centre of England’s statement
The 23-year-old was central to an emphatic England display, combining his contribution in possession with the work he produced away from the ball. Tuchel felt Bellingham had reached “another level”, while adding the reminder that footballers can never afford to stand still.
- England defeated Croatia 7-0 on Saturday.
- Bellingham scored one goal and created three more.
- Kane struck twice during the one-sided contest.
- Gordon added a goal for England.
- Tuchel described Bellingham as having moved up a level, while stressing the need for continued progress.
Keane sees a leader emerging
Roy Keane, the former Republic of Ireland midfielder and Manchester United great, was particularly impressed by Bellingham’s influence on the England group. He said the Madrid player had grown into an important leader for the national team and believed there was still much more to come.
Keane suggested Bellingham could eventually rank among the greatest players the game has seen. While praising his ability on the ball, he placed special weight on the midfielder’s effort without it.
“I have praised him for being fantastic on the ball, but what he does without it is what drives all these players,” Keane said. He argued that a player capable of producing exceptional moments for Real Madrid while also showing such commitment off the ball would inspire those around him.
An immaculate evening for Tuchel’s side
Keane called England’s performance “impeccable” and was blunt about Croatia’s collapse, saying the Balkan side had looked like “a Gibraltar-type team”. For England, though, the evening belonged to the force of their collective display and to Bellingham’s role within it: scorer, creator and, in Keane’s view, a figure setting the standard for the rest of the squad.
