The Real Madrid player, Jude Bellingham, established himself yesterday as one of the best footballers of this English team. The midfielder, who continues to be touched by the wand of football, was involved in two of England's three goals against Italy (3-1) and certified The Three Lions' qualification for the 2024 Euro Cup.
It was not necessary for the Englishman to score, this time, to be decisive. By sheer power he forced the 1-1 penalty, scored by Harry Kane, and with a recovery in his own half and a start from 50 meters, he gave the ball to Marcus Rashford to complete the comeback against the Azzurri and win at Wembley .
Because the English fans had been listening to Bellingham's adventures in Madrid for months, but they had barely enjoyed it against Scotland, in a match that was played in the distant Hampden Park. He wanted his people to see him up close, but Gareth Southgate left him on the bench against Australia and they had to wait until Tuesday to watch his display.
It didn't take him even five minutes to start cheering on the fans with a simple throw-in, but Bellingham knew that it was his night, that it was his day to shine with the number 10 on his back and 90,000 people in the stands.
That is why it did not deflate when Italy, taking advantage of a mistake by John Stones, went ahead through Gianluca Scamacca, a goal that could delay England's passage to the tournament in Germany. It was a memory of what happened two years ago on this stage, but at that time with a drink in between.
The English started behind, but Bellingham was clear that this would not be the end. After half an hour, he created a one-two with Harry Kane and got rid of the defense. When he entered the area through sheer power, Di Lorenzo sent him to the ground. Clear penalty. Kane scored it, with his 60th goal for the national team, and Bellingham already had its first score in the game.
With a self-pass over the head of an Italian defender, he formed the transition and when he was already in sight of the balcony of the area, he gave the ball to Rashford to complete a great goal that left Donnaruma like a statue.
Fifteen minutes from the end and with Italy determined to equalize, Kane took advantage of an indecision on the part of the defense to continue increasing his scoring tally. 61 points for the English captain, whose powder remains intact despite his exile to Germany.
Bellingham, despite not scoring, felt baptized in the temple of football, where Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton triumphed 57 years ago and where the English have experienced many of their joys and, above all, their disappointments.
The Real Madrid player is the new hope of a team that knows that in five years it will host the Euro Cup final here and that is aware that it has one of the strongest groups not only on the continent, but also in the world.
At the moment, they are already classified for the event in Germany. Italy, the current European champion, will need to beat North Macedonia and Ukraine to be able to be in Germany next summer. If they do not do so, they will be left out of another major tournament, after missing the World Cup in Qatar.
