JUDE BELLINGHAM’S comments were as pointed as the rampaging run through the Greek defence which led to England’s second goal.
“A lot was made of the lads that weren’t here but the lads that were here, who showed up, were amazing,” said the Real Madrid Galactico.
Bellingham showed up, big time, in Athens on Thursday, with a leader’s performance which propelled England to the top of their Nations League and confirmed him as his nation’s first-choice No 10.
Since the Euros we have spent a lot of time wondering whether Lee Carsley – and, soon, Thomas Tuchel – could fit England’s three great attacking midfield talents into the same team.
The conundrum surrounding Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer – who all prefer to play in that No 10 role – has become like the old Gerrard-Lampard riddle writ large.
Interim boss Carsley started with all three in central positions – and no recognised centre-forward – in the chaotic 2-1 home defeat by Greece last month.
But when Foden and Palmer were part of a mass withdrawal from this England squad, Bellingham bossed Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over the same opposition.
The feeling – shared by skipper Harry Kane – is that certain players who pulled out of Carsley’s squad would have been present had Tuchel taken up his post before these final two Nations League matches against Greece and at home to Ireland on Sunday.
Chelsea talisman Palmer and Manchester City’s Footballer of the Year Foden both played the full 90 minutes for their clubs last weekend and, if you were a betting man, you might fancy them to do the same next weekend too.
In their absence, England thrived in a hostile environment producing the sort of truly convincing performance which has been rare in 2024.
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Bellingham has often been shoved into unfavoured positions on the left and in a deeper midfield role for Real but he is surely the man Tuchel will build his England team around.
Palmer and Foden, as outstanding as they are at club level, will struggle to nail down places in the starting line-up when everyone is fit.
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Foden has rarely impressed in 43 international appearances and during this summer’s Euros, he and Bellingham did not co-exist effectively.
Could Palmer or Foden be accommodated on the right by Tuchel?
It is difficult to imagine them starting ahead of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke, whose pace and intelligence were key to England’s win over Greece.
“There would have been a million and one excuses if we hadn’t played well or not got over the line,” said Bellingham, “but the lads did their business so professionally.”
Curtis Jones enjoyed an excellent debut in central midfield and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers shone as a second-half sub on his first senior appearance for the Three Lions.
The absentees have inadvertently given Tuchel plenty of food for thought because those who stepped into the breach proved their own credentials against a Greek side who wiped the Wembley floor with England last month.
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While Carsley’s brief reign has often felt confusing, he will leave a decent legacy of having promoted several members of his European champion Under-21 side into the senior ranks.
Jones, Madueke, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White all triumphed at that tournament in Georgia last year and all have enjoyed their elevation to the first team.
Asked about their impact, Carsley said: “They’ve put themselves in a really good position.
“We spoke about the amount of players who weren’t here but it’s given six or seven players some opportunity to be in a venue like that, to experience that kind of atmosphere. They’ve done themselves a lot of good.
“To get an opportunity to play and be as exciting and attacking as they were is good to watch. We want to see a side that’s playing with energy, enthusiasm, creating chances and we had that.
“They won at under-18 level as well and I think it definitely helps. We’ve seen that with Germany in the past and with Spain so why can’t that be England?”
Carsley sees Bellingham, 21, as a leader for the clutch of emerging England players – even though some of them are older than the Real man.
He added: “Jude always plays with responsibility. You only see it during games but he does it in training, he leads by example.
“He’s a really good person to have around because people want to aspire to him.”
As for Carsley’s biggest gamble of Thursday night – benching Kane in favour of Ollie Watkins – that was a ballsy move which paid off when the Villa man netted the early opener.
Yet he will revert to starting Kane against the Irish and tried to claim that England’s record goalscorer had been rotated rather than dropped – a euphemism which the skipper is unlikely to appreciate.
Carsley said: “Harry’s playing on Sunday, he’ll start. He’s captain, he’s so important to the team.
Forgotten England stars could benefit from Tuchel appointment
WITH Thomas Tuchel announced as the next England manager, a few forgotten stars might be hopeful of a return to the international set up.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager usually uses a 3-4-3 formation.
That could provide an opening for Mason Mount, who’s not been involved in the England set-up since the World Cup in 2022.
The now Manchester United star enjoyed his most successful spell under Tuchel while the pair were at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel could also offer lifelines to other previously capped players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eric Dier.
RLC has excelled since his move to AC Milan and with England struggling to find a partner for Rice, he could be the surprise answer.
Meanwhile, Dier played for Tuchel at Bayern Munich as part of a back-three last season.
The defender did enough to convince the club to make his loan move permanent after he had fallen out of favour at Tottenham.
Click here to see the full England XI who could play under Tuchel.
“It was just a case of having a look at something different, giving someone else the experience who has not had a lot of chances.
“I definitely didn’t drop Harry Kane. He’s done well for me every game he’s played and been involved with. It wasn’t a case of being dropped, far from it.
“Ollie is playing in the Champions League with Villa, he’s doing really well, the same with Morgan Rogers. It’s great he got a goal, it looks like a great decision then doesn’t it?”
It certainly did look like a great decision from Carsley.
Just as it looked like a terrible decision for several others not to turn up.
England ratings vs Greece as Madueke and Jones steal the show after Kane benched
IT IS difficult to remember an England starting XI which, on paper at least, looked as totally underwhelming as this one.
Yet manager-in-waiting Thomas Tuchel, presumably watching the game at his home in Bavaria, will have been hugely encouraged by this performance from what appeared to be a complete mish-mash of a team – and one which was awfully short of experience.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars…
Jordan Pickford – 8
Back in after being dropped for Finland last month – and showed a good response. Great stop to deny Kostas Tsimikas at the near post and alive to danger throughout.
Earned his first-ever booking in 72 England caps for time wasting in the first half.
Kyle Walker – 7
Captain in Harry Kane’s absence and passionately conveyed his side’s frustration to ref Daniel Siebert when Pickford was booked.
Moved to centre-back after the break when Ezri Konsa went off.
Marc Guehi – 7
Another solid performance from the Crystal Palace man who you would think would be a first-choice starter for Thomas Tuchel when the German begins work.
Ezri Konsa – 7
One of several players targeted by a laser in the crowd, along with Pickford and Belligham.
Limped off just before half-time and was replaced by Lewis Hall at the break.
Rico Lewis – 7
Filled in at left-back over newbie Hall, before moving to the right when the Newcastle man came on.
Almost had his first England goal early in the second half but was denied by a fine stop from Hall’s club-mate Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Curtis Jones – 9
Sparkled on debut in the heart of midfield, not looking overawed in the slightest. Played deeper than he does for Liverpool, but in the same position where he shone for Lee Carsley in England’s triumphant Under-21 Euros last summer.
Gorgeous backheel to cap his bow with the third goal.
Conor Gallagher – 7
Started brightly next to Jones, though gave the ball away a few times after the break. Booked for stopping a quick free-kick early on.
Arrived just too late to poke in the rebound from Bellingham’s strike as it had already crossed the line for an own goal.
Noni Madueke – 9
A blistering first start from the Chelsea man who put real pressure on Bukayo Saka’s place with this performance.
He took on his man at every opportunity, at pace, and had excellent end product too, setting up Watkins’ opener and a header for Bellingham which hit the post.
Jude Bellingham – 8
Some sublime touches and passes from the talisman, including a wonderful ball round the corner to release Madueke in the build-up to the opener.
Seemed to thrive with pace all around him and killed off the game with his late strike which hit the post and bounced in off the keeper.
Anthony Gordon – 7
Provided a threat down the left with his pace and trickery, even if he was outshone by Madueke. A decent display but not one that demanded he start at left wing every game.
Ollie Watkins – 7
The surprise starter over Harry Kane. He took his early chance well, converting from the edge of the six-yard box.
Could have had another when sent clean through but the ball got stuck under his feet.
Subs
Lewis Hall (for Ezri Konsa half-time) – 7
Came on at half-time for his debut and did not put a foot wrong.
Harry Kane (for Ollie Watkins, 66) – 6
Had a curling effort well stopped after exchanging passes with fellow sub Morgan Rogers.
Morgan Rogers (for Anthony Gordon, 66) – 8
Some exciting touches from the Villa debutant, including one to release Bellingham in the lead-up to the second goal.
Jarrod Bowen (for Noni Madueke, 66) – 7
Clever nutmeg to free Morgan Gibbs-White, who then teed up Jones.
Morgan Gibbs-White (for Gallagher, 79) – 7
Cutback for Jones was on the money.
