Jude Bellingham's Astonishing Ascent and Kalvin Phillips' Crucial Need for Game Time

Bellingham scaling remarkable heights

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Jude Bellingham was the star for England in their win

Jude Bellingham embarked on a remarkable run from deep within his own half, leaving defenders in his wake as he relentlessly surged forward. As the Wembley crowd erupted in applause, he orchestrated a breathtaking breakthrough, ultimately leading to Marcus Rashford's decisive second goal. This momentous display exemplified Bellingham's exceptional talent, as he continues to consistently reach extraordinary levels on the football field.

England manager Gareth Southgate praised the exceptional mentality of the player after the game, emphasizing their remarkable maturity and humility at such a young age. Southgate acknowledged the player as a crucial factor that has positively influenced the team. Furthermore, he admired the player's demeanor, both on and off the field, highlighting that these qualities have been evident since their arrival.

Harry Maguire stated that there is absolutely no possibility that any other midfielder in the world can match Bellingham's abilities at the moment, and it is difficult to dispute this claim. Especially when considering that this young talent is capable of dominating matches against top European clubs both at the international and domestic level.

The fact that Bellingham, who is only 20 years old, has achieved such remarkable feats is truly extraordinary. In his first ten appearances for Real Madrid, the most renowned club in the world, he has managed to score ten goals. Although he hasn't yet replicated this prolific form while playing for England, it is inconsequential when considering the numerous other contributions he makes to the team.

He secured England's equalizing penalty with his superior speed, outpacing Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the Italy box. His extraordinary explosive power became even more apparent when he scored the sensational second goal.

Italy was completely overwhelmed by him, leaving their exhausted players with no option but to intentionally bring him down. Notably, Bellingham successfully completed more dribbles than any other player on his team and drew the most fouls. Additionally, he topped the charts for chances created and interceptions, highlighting his overall contribution.

Record-breaker Kane delivers again

Bellingham's sheer completeness is intimidating, particularly for England's rivals. However, for England, it serves as a source of inspiration to envision achieving greatness in Euro 2024. Italy discovered the challenge of containing Bellingham once he gains momentum. - Nick Wright

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Harry Kane scored his 60th and 61st goals for England. Despite facing a long delay before his penalty, Kane remained composed. After the VAR check was concluded and the referee signaled, he took a moment, drew two deep breaths, and then confidently slotted the spot-kick into the corner.

He admitted that his expensive mistake during the penalty shootout against France during last year's World Cup would continue to trouble him indefinitely following the tournament. However, for Kane, everything has returned to normal. He maintains his consistent methods and his unstoppable ability to score goals.

In a strikingly similar manner, he confidently completed his second goal by maneuvering past the Italian defense, bringing his total number of goals for England to 61. This remarkable achievement surpasses Sir Bobby Charlton as England's leading goal scorer at Wembley. Presently, he has accumulated 24 goals at this stadium.

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Bellingham is the heart and soul of the England team, but he is not the sole player who continues to improve. Despite being 30 years old, Kane also shows signs of progress, having contributed to a total of 33 goals in his most recent 30 matches representing England.

Southgate emphasized the importance of not overlooking the significance of the goals scored, as it is easy to take them for granted. However, he acknowledged that there is more to his game, including his ability to physically dominate the opposing centre-backs, his exceptional vision, and his precise passing. Due to the extended period of time that the team has had him, it is understandable that his contributions may be undervalued, but he is undoubtedly a player of the highest caliber.

Revitalised Rashford's timely boost

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Marcus Rashford's goal put England in the lead, showcasing a reminiscent performance from last season. With a clinical finish, he gave England an advantage in the second half, maintaining a consistent threat throughout the match.

Despite England's below-par performance in the opening period, there were earlier warning signs. Rashford's knuckleball 30-yard free-kick narrowly missed Gianluigi Donnarumma's crossbar, and the Italy goalkeeper successfully smothered another chance just before half-time. While Jude Bellingham's driving run seemed to be the main factor behind Rashford's goal, a closer look reveals that it was the Manchester United forward's speed and delicate touches that enabled him to evade two defenders and find the perfect angle for an unstoppable shot, effortlessly making it look easy.

It felt like a performance Rashford sorely needed and this will do his confidence the world of good.Declan Olley

Phillips can't take Southgate's loyalty for granted

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Kalvin Phillips featured for 70 minutes in the match against Italy. He must have anticipated a difficult evening considering he wasn't expected to start. As a player who has been overlooked, particularly by Manchester City, he was fortunate to escape a booking within the first 50 seconds for a high boot on Giovanni Di Lorenzo. However, French referee Clement Turpin had no choice but to issue a yellow card only nine minutes later when Phillips made a challenge on Davide Frattesi.

This was Phillips' first competitive start for his country since March. Southgate's unwavering loyalty remains a major point of contention, but the 27-year-old managed to overcome a shaky start and put his caution behind him. However, his challenge on Bryan Cristante resulted in a final warning and Southgate promptly substituted him with Jordan Henderson.

"I was aware immediately that it would result in a yellow card," Phillips admitted to Channel 4 regarding his early booking. "I was lucky in the end not to be sent off. It's just my style of play, so I need to exercise caution."

Being a footballer, one always desires to be actively participating in matches, and I share this sentiment. Unfortunately, I haven't had enough opportunities in the past year and a half. In a recent game against Scotland, I received a yellow card early on. Fortunately, Gareth decided to include me in tonight's match. My aim is to accumulate more playing time and secure a spot for the Euros, thus only time will tell what unfolds. With a mere 70 minutes of Premier League football in the current season, it is highly likely that Phillips will consider a transfer in January to guarantee his place in Germany.

Italy profit from England's makeshift left side

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Kieran Trippier (centre) was selected at left-back

Southgate's satisfaction likely stemmed from his players' response to Gianluca Scamacca's early goal. Italy had clearly targeted England's vulnerable left side, knowing that Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell were unavailable. To address this, Southgate chose Kieran Trippier, who was making his 14th appearance as a left-back. However, both Trippier and the retreating Rashford were unable to stop Italy from taking the lead with their first shot of the game.

During the first half, Domenico Berardi and Giovanni Di Lorenzo joined forces to create a significant opportunity that required Jordan Pickford's intervention along the same path. However, Italy did not possess enough quality to fully exploit this perceived vulnerability. Despite Trippier's expertise in set-pieces, his reliance on his right foot creates an imbalance. Southgate aims to enhance this aspect in anticipation of the upcoming match against Germany next year.