And that’s why England have to build around Jude Bellingham.
That is why Thomas Tuchel has to trust more in his No 10. England were again struggling to protect a World Cup lead, a crazy game teetering at 5-4 when Bellingham did what he does best. This force of nature, this powerhouse of a footballer, picked up the ball and destroyed a defence with quick feet, quick mind and superb strength and technique.
A bonkers, breathless football match, the greatest close-run affair between England and France since Waterloo, ended in a tennis score. Thanks to Bellingham. No Englishman has ever scored more than his seven at a World Cup. And he’s only 23. Cherish him.
HENRY WINTER: ‘Cherish Jude Bellingham’
England have good players. One of the narratives following England’s World Cup heartache against Argentina was that the talent was insufficient. Nonsense. England have the players like Bellingham. They were just let down by Tuchel’s substitutions.
As well as the prodigy Bellingham, another reminder of the talent at Tuchel’s disposal was the sight of Bukayo Saka opening up France’s defence time and again with his rapidity and boldness of movement. He was named Man of the Match, inevitably for his hat-trick.
The Arsenal winger, their ‘star-boy’, spoke afterwards at his frustration of not playing more in the World Cup. He’d been ignored by Tuchel against Argentina.
“There was a reason, an in-game decision against Bukayo,” Tuchel said on the eve of this third-place play-off. “We decided for a more physical approach with Morgan Rogers.’’ Rogers created Anthony Gordon’s goal, which allowed Tuchel to argue the decision was vindicated – Rogers “proved us right” – but he clearly did not use Saka enough.
Being so professional and team-minded, Saka responded in the way he knows best, in style, in prolific fashion.
But Bellingham is the heart and soul of this England team, the re-energiser, the next captain when Harry Kane stands down. He came on when England were risking throwing away a lead and another World Cup game. Déjà vu as their opponents would say. Not on Bellingham’s watch. He drove past Maxence Lacroix, easily eluded Dayot Upamecano and drilled his shot past Mike Maignan. England could breathe easily.
It’s folly to suggest there isn’t talent. England’s starting front six against Argentina had cost more than £600m. Morgan Rogers is the subject of a £117m interest from Chelsea. Marcus Rashford promptly nutmegged Warren Zaire-Emery as this mad, fun third-place game kicked off. The lions were rampant, beating France in a competitive game for the first time since 1982, at the World Cup in Bilbao when Bryan Robson set the tone very early.
Tuchel is a very proud man, a flaw when situations require some reflection, even introspection.
His name and picture on the giant screens were briefly booed before kick-off. And then his team went 4-0 up. Good players. France didn’t know what hit them. Sacre bleu. That was more like it. England played on the front foot, free from fear, encouraged to go out and play. There was little at stake, the crowd had an MLS feel, enjoying some pre-season fare. But those England diehards, the masochists with air miles who had stayed on, were rewarded in style. Some of them had got in on the act, and taken the French fans apart 12-3 in a friendly near Miami Beach.
The players followed suit, Declan Rice leading the way as captain, scoring, assisting and sending a message that England do have good players. Saka initially shone in comparison to the great Kylian Mbappe. A show of force, of goals, a show perhaps also to their manager that they should be trusted.
Rice bestrode the first half, picking off Desire Doue’s pass, being too quick for Malo Gusto and Zaire-Emery, and then using Ibrahima Konate as a shield to mask intentions from Mike Maignan, and finish powerfully: 0-1. Rice then curled in a corner, Ezri Konsa was too strong for Adrien Rabiot, and headed past Maignan: 0-2. The men with three lions on their shirt were rampant, unstoppable, seizing a third when Rashford and Saka combined, Maignan went walkabout, and Saka finished: 0-3. Arsenal’s “star-boy” then ran on to a pass from Eberechi Eze and shot low past Maignan: 0-4.
As Rice and Mbappe were swapping shirts in the tunnel at the break, Didier Deschamps was making more than a wardrobe change. Theo Hernandez, Rayan Cherki, Ibrahima Konate and Desire Doue were hooked. Lucas Digne, Upamecano, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele came on and immediately made a difference. Upamecano outmuscled Ollie Watkins, who’d replaced Rashford on the left, Michael Olise angled a through ball for Mbappe, whose left foot placed it past Henderson; 1-4. Mbappe now played the creator, guiding Barcola into space. He was too quick for Konsa, too clinical for Henderson; 2-4. Olise then released Mbappe through England’s shell-shocked defence: 3-4. Chasing the Golden Boot, Mbappe moved two clear of Lionel Messi on 10.
The second-half hydration break arrived at the perfect time for Tuchel, briefly halting France’s momentum, and giving him an opportunity to bring some composure and organisation to his troubled team. Olise wasted three chances at least.
FIFA announced the crowd of 64,478, celebrating that with “FULL HOUSE” which must have been a surprise to those sitting next to the couple of hundred empty seats. Many of the fans had been rhythmically chanting “Mbappe, Mbappe” but soon had Bellingham to cheer. England’s No 10 was loudly cheered on as Tuchel sought to set France a challenge. Anything to relieve the siege. Elliot Anderson also ran on to regain control of midfield. Ivan Toney and Eze departed. With five minutes remaining, England had a chance to kill the game off. Djed Spence raced past Gusto, who slid in and clipped the Tottenham man’s trailing left foot. Angling his penalty low past Maignan, Saka converted the 16th of the 20 he has taken: 3-5.
The madness resumed, Dembele beating Dean Henderson: 4-5. Nerves bit deep before Bellingham decided to kill France off: 4-6. England departed with bronze medals, with doubts remaining over Tuchel but utterly convinced in the importance of Jude Bellingham.