'Best England player of all time'? Why Jude Bellingham backs Harry Kane at World Cup

· Yahoo Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Harry Kane stood some feet ahead of his teammates, alone, facing the white slope of English fans behind goal who had started to serenade them.

This rendition of “Wonderwall,” however, felt rather different. Following the side’s first match of the 2026 World Cup against Croatia, in Dallas, it was reverential. This time, it was somewhere between tentative and relieved.

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Kane, seemingly sensing this, gestured to the crowd as if to rouse their spirits, as if to ease their concerns.

England produced the result it needed Saturday, June 27 in its final match of Group L, topping Panama with a pair of second half goals. The Three Lions won their group with seven points and will now face the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, July 1 in the round of 32. But, after England slogged its way through a goalless draw just four days earlier against Ghana, and after its first half forays into the Panamanian penalty area were thwarted, a palpable disquiet had started to filter through the crowd here.

This is, after all, a country that has become all too familiar with unrealized dreams in this tournament, as England is seeking its second World Cup championship and first since 1966.

The selection’s imperfect play during the group stage raised several significant questions as England heads into the round of 32. Namely, after coach Thomas Tuchel made several key lineup changes against Panama, which players will he trust moving forward?

Tuchel started forwards Marcus Rashford (left wing) and Bukayo Saka (right) one game after Ghana threw extra bodies at Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke.

The results Saturday were mixed. Rashford did give away possession numerous times, but his effort and intent did create some opportunities.

Midfielder Declan Rice also did not play, though his absence may have been more of an attempt to give him extra rest after his club Arsenal – champion of England – also made a run to the Champions League final.

England entered Saturday having already advanced, so this match against Panama, a side that had already been eliminated, offered the chance for Tuchel to test different players in different lineups.

To that end, when England possessed the ball — and with Rice on the bench — midfielder Jude Bellingham acted as a true No. 10, or an attacking midfielder who creates for his teammates. In the 62nd minute, Bellingham scored England’s first goal, and he curled the pass that found Kane five minutes later for the header that sealed the match.

“The first game (against Croatia) was a more open game, a more attacking game,” Tuchel said when asked about the drop-off in England’s performance throughout the group stage. “A more technical opponent, an opponent with more ball possession.

“The second and third opponents were so physical in the duels — happy to be in the deep blocks, happy to play straight through the middle counterattacks, happy to commit on the sides with three or four players to defend the sides. It takes a lot to attack against these teams.”

The issue for England, then, becomes that group stage play revealed something of a blueprint for how teams can defend against the side: clogging wings with extra bodies, dropping midfielders into defense and using contact and physicality to disrupt possession and timing.

“I know that it’s sometimes less spectacular to see,” Tuchel admitted. “But we know what it takes. I know about the effort and commitment from the team. This is what we bring. I think this is also what the fans, especially in the stadium, feel at the moment.”

As ever with England, Kane is the balm to soothe stalled attacks. His goal Saturday was his 11th in a World Cup, surpassing Gary Lineker for most all-time in the tournament for an English player. Kane was already the country’s all-time leader in international goals with 82.

Whether it’s through his height and leaping ability on headers or his gift to carve soft gaps in defenses, Kane’s scoring presents England’s best chance to progress deep into this tournament.

“It’s an honor to play with him,” Bellingham said. “For me, he’s the best England player of all time. He’s the one who has shown up more than anyone. He’s quite easy to play with, in all honesty. He’s at a level at the minute that’s just incredible. You don’t doubt him at all.”

Bellingham, too, may have provided a tangible path forward. After a difficult club season with Real Madrid that was marred by injury and inconsistent form, Bellingham commanded the midfield against Panama, deftly navigating possession and passing lanes, distributing the ball to his outlets up the pitch. More of that will be needed, especially if teams do try to take away the flanks.

“It’s good that we had it, because it teaches us lessons,” Tuchel said of the adversity in the group stage. “It teaches us to stay committed, to stay disciplined, to not lose belief and to keep on knocking and knocking and to trust the process within the match.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Best England player of all time'? Why Jude Bellingham backs Harry Kane at World Cup

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