World Cup 2022: Thanks to Jude Bellingham, there’s hope in Qatar

There were any number of positives from England’s 6-2 win over Iran yesterday, from joyful redemption for goalscorers Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford — two players who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 Final defeat to Italy — to the impact of Gareth Southgate’s substitutes in Doha.

But surely the biggest plus for Southgate’s England side was the performance of teenager Jude Bellingham, who opened the scoring and was magnificent on his first appearance at a World Cup.

The make-up of England’s midfield has long been cited as a reason for their historic failure to get over the line in major tournaments, and Southgate has struggled to find the right balance at the heart of his team.

For all England’s progress in the European Championships two summers ago, there was criticism that the midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips was too conservative. In Bellingham, England have found a player whose presence immediately makes Southgate’s XI feel less of a compromise and therefore more complete.

(AFP via Getty Images)

At 19, Bellingham is the most exciting England player of a generation and surely the man to build a team around for the next decade.

Few in Europe have had any doubts about his quality given his mature performances for Borussia Dortmund but the world stage is now set for him to have a breakthrough tournament. His rise is reminiscent of Wayne Rooney, who burst onto the scene for England at Euro 2004 and never looked back.

Bellingham has been catapulted into the side on the eve of the finals and has taken the step up in his stride. After one performance, he already looks un-droppable.

Bigger tests await England, of course, and against the tournament’s best sides Bellingham will have the challenge of helping Southgate’s team keep the ball and manage the game more maturely — another historic failing at this level, which was part of England’s downfall in Russia four years ago and at the Euros.

Encouragingly, Bellingham looks and plays like someone far more experienced, and is a compelling reason for everyone to be excited about England’s chances in Qatar.