A single performance may have ended England’s biggest World Cup debate

When England played Costa Rica in Orlando (3-0), Thomas Tuchel provided plenty of clues and answered several questions about the lineup his side could use when they open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17. The biggest question of all was who would partner Harry Kane in an advanced midfield role.

Jude Bellingham, England’s No. 10, did not have a guaranteed place in the starting lineup. But after what unfolded during the first 45 minutes at Inter&Co Stadium, the Real Madrid midfielder left little room for doubt about his role in the team.

Starting in what was close to England’s strongest available lineup, Bellingham’s display reinforced what Tuchel had already suggested months ago: England are a better team with him on the field.

It was the final dress rehearsal before the World Cup, Bellingham’s second with the senior England team and his fourth major international tournament, and he passed the test with flying colors.

As journalist Henry Winter wrote in FourFourTwo, “Jude Bellingham was so impressive that he has surely ended the debate over whether he should start for England against Croatia in Dallas.”

Bellingham linked up with everyone

His constant movement across the front line and ability to link play made him, alongside goalscorer Anthony Gordon, the standout performer of the match.

He seemed to connect with everyone around him. With England already leading 1-0, Bellingham threaded a superb pass through to Noni Madueke, who failed to convert when through on goal. Then came a brilliant solo run in the second half, weaving past five defenders inside the penalty area before Eberechi Eze failed to apply the finishing touch.

Along with those two key passes and a shot from the edge of the box that drifted narrowly wide, Bellingham completed all three of his dribbles and battled relentlessly in midfield, winning four of five duels and recording a successful tackle.

That performance earned praise from Tuchel after the match.

“We showed very clearly what our DNA is: our work without the ball, our intensity, our pressing,” said the England coach. “I wanted to see Jude partnering Harry, Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice in midfield for the first time. I know what Morgan Rogers gives us there because I’ve seen it many times. For Jude it was the first time. He believes in these ideas. He has to, and he loves it. That’s part of our game. And he did it, like everyone else, at a very high level.”

Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham

In recent camps, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers had become one of Tuchel’s most trusted players. Having started five of England’s eight World Cup qualifying matches, the midfielder appeared to have moved ahead of Bellingham in the race for the attacking midfield role.

That perception grew after Rogers finished the season in outstanding form for Aston Villa, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 55 appearances. His performances earned him a place in Tuchel’s 26-man squad ahead of players such as Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Tuchel’s comments before the Costa Rica game also seemed to hint that Rogers might get the nod.

“We have plenty of evidence that we can win football matches without Jude, and that’s the biggest headline,” Tuchel said. “Jude is in incredible form, but we have to stop talking about individuals. Jude won’t win this World Cup on his own. That’s simply impossible. Nobody will win this World Cup on their own. We win it as a team.”

But the events in Orlando told a different story.

Even Craig Hope, one of Bellingham’s most outspoken critics, came away convinced that England’s No. 10 must start against Croatia.

“When Bellingham got the chance to shine in Orlando, he radiated star quality,” Hope wrote in the Daily Mail. “He intercepted a clearance inside 30 seconds and that set the tone for both his performance and the team’s. That was without the ball. With it, there were moments that reminded everyone why Bellingham is built for the biggest occasions.

“He may not dominate a game from the first minute to the 90th, but he doesn’t need to in that position. He has the class and confidence to seize the moment.

“The debate will continue, but it shouldn’t. Jude Bellingham has to start.”

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