World Cup 2026: England will not win World Cup if they do not improve, writes Phil McNulty

Jude Bellingham’s place in England’s World Cup starting line-up was a point of debate before the tournament, under pressure from the outstanding form of his boyhood friend, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

Tuchel, correctly, decided he could not do without Bellingham’s class and big tournament experience.

He has been rewarded with a crucial goal in their opening World Cup win against Croatia then here, even more significantly, with a game-changing performance in New York New Jersey Stadium in the face of Panamanian defiance.

Bellingham worked in tandem with Rogers as Tuchel rested Declan Rice, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury and was on a yellow card.

The pair’s attacking instincts occasionally left Elliot Anderson over-run and overworked as a single pivot, but Bellingham’s brilliance made it work.

Despite fairly obvious attempts by Panama to play on his combustible temperament, Bellingham was the inspiration by forcing home the first goal, then crossing for Harry Kane to head the second, making England’s captain the country’s leading World Cup finals scorer with 11, one ahead of Gary Lineker.

Bellingham and Kane have now made decisive contributions to victories against Croatia and Panama. How England needed them here.

Marcus Rashford, deservedly given his chance after two disappointing displays from Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon, was England’s brightest spark in the first half as he forced a save from Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, headed narrowly over, then sent a free-kick just wide.

But frustration was mounting until Bellingham’s quality and industry paid off with England’s opener, capping a man-of-the-match performance further embellished with his assist for Kane.

If England are to win the World Cup, they will need Bellingham at his brilliant best. This display suggests he is in the mood to deliver.