JUDE BELLINGHAM was like a yo-yo for England as he inspired another World Cup win.
The Three Lions midfielder played a pivotal role in the 2-0 group stage victory over Panama, scoring to crack open the game, and then assisting for Harry Kane’s second.
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Jude Bellingham was central to England’s win over Panama Credit: SUNSPORT
He and Elliot Anderson anchored the side in the middle of the pitch Credit: SUNSPORT
The individual display papered over some more cracks for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who were once more frustrated by a deep defence.
And they will have more of that to put up with in the last-32 after being pitted against DR Congo.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has questions to answer before that clash after a midfield rejig.
It was all discussed on this week’s Tactics Exposed with JattvibeSport’s Dean Scoggins going through the three main takeaways from the match.
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Wahey Jude
Central to England, literally, Bellingham stood out as the matchwinner and game changer.
But his role was different to previous appearances.
Dean explained: “Jude Bellingham, what can we say. I’m glad we can now put to bed all that chatter of should he be playing for England.
“Of course he should. We said it from day one, and he’s just proved it. Not just from ability, but from a tactical point of view.
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The Real Madrid man took advantage of others creating space for him to streak into Credit: SUNSPORT
“Thomas Tuchel said he’s got the bit between his teeth and he has done since they were in Florida for the pre-camp.
“We could see it today [Saturday] because he was like a yo-yo. He was either up or back.
“There wasn’t really much in between. Look at the heat map, there was nothing really on the halfway line.
“He was either up in attack and beyond the strikers or back helping out the defence and making tackles, or being in a deep position to receive the ball.
“It’s more like he’s a number six, eight, and ten in this. Rather than being an out-and-out forward in the game before.”
And it was Bellingham’s off-ball movement as much as what he did in possession that made the difference.
Dean continues: “For the goal, England are in the classic 3-1-6 shape with [Marcus] Rashford deep to receive the ball and [Nico] O’Reilly doing the decoy run to distract Panama‘s back five.
“Rashford takes the winback out, O’Reilly occupies the right centre-back and that means the space is there for Bellingham to go in-between.
“Whips it round the corner from Rashford and then Bellingham crosses for [Harry] Kane to score.
Marcus Rashford dropping deep attracted attention Credit: SUNSPORT
Anderson was left to clear up on his own Credit: sunsport
“That was training ground stuff and when you’re playing against a 5-4-1 block you need to get the wingbacks out so you’ve got the space in behind.”
He goes on: “By playing [Morgan] Rogers one side and Bellingham the other side of Kane, then with Bellingham coming in to help Anderson when he needed to, Rogers was able to be the man up with Kane in the decoy runs as well.
“All of a sudden, from the Ghana game with no runners there were lots of runners and it all centred around Bellingham.”
Ell of a performance
If Bellingham was the main man in the box then Manchester City‘s new £100million star Elliot Anderson had a huge role to make it all possible.
Dean said: “England set up in a 3-1-6 without [Declan] Rice. When we’re talking about the right-back problem that England had, everyone was surprised to see Quansah over Spence.
“But it’s because one of the full-backs don’t go and O’Reilly goes forward, so you favour a right centre-back as the right-back anyway.
“The amount of responsibility on Anderson, all in the centre of the field. He dominated basically on his own.
“All round, all- action performance from him. He was really, really good and it bodes well for a midfield that will have Rice in it as well.”
The new Manchester City man filled gaps for Thomas Tuchel Credit: sunsport
He offered options for the wide trianglesCredit: sunsport
When it comes to Congo and Rice is fit to return, can Tuchel find the balance with them both?
Dean thinks: “That’s the biggest talking point for Tuchel over the 48 hours before the Congo game.
“Does Rice play instead of Rogers but up the field or is it an Anderson or Rice decision.”
Marc’s set go
It wasn’t all simple for England, though, as Panama caused them issues on the counter.
Dean analysed: “It’s a 3-1-6 or a 3-2-5 which is easier to set up a rest defence to block passes coming out with an extra man.
“When you have so much possession, one centre-back gets dragged forward to back up play because you don’t have two midfielders, one either side, to do that.
“So [Marc] Guehi does it. He does it a lot for Manchester City and comes up with O’Reilly going forward.
“But two passes got in behind them and Guehi was put in a race against the striker, back towards [Jordan] Pickford.
Marc Guehi’s recovery runs were crucial Credit: sunsport
Panama were unfortunate not to score Credit: sunsport
“Anderson covered a couple of times, Guehi got across a couple of times, and [Ezri] Konsa got back once.
“That’s something for England to consider. They got lucky with the one that was offside.
“It was one pass wide and one pass in. That diagonal shape opened England up.
“It’s the danger of a 3-1-6 with one less player in the middle.”
