Gary Neville said England midfielder Jude Bellingham “looks like he can do anything” after another impressive performance in the 3-0 World Cup win over Senegal.
Sky Sports’ Neville was delighted to receive praise for the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund player, who has started every game for England at the World Cup so far.
Bellingham’s run and Jordan Henderson’s square helped England move out of their last 16, before they did the same in their second with a curling strike inside his own half.
“It’s very rare that you see a midfielder as comfortable in his own half as he is in attack,” said Neville. ITV. “He looks like he can do everything. Is he a player, an attacking player? It’s everything in one.
“Physically he’s amazing, young but with a poise, maturity and fearlessness that I can’t get my head around.
“I saw players playing in England for many years, the weight of the shirt was bigger. He doesn’t feel it at all, he looks like he belongs out there, like he wants it and needs it in his life.”
Keane added that he had never seen the form the youngster produced in his first World Cup match, still six months from his 20th birthday.
Keane said ITV: “I haven’t seen a young midfielder do that for years. You usually see it from an international player who is 26, 27 years old. Everything he does in the game. We talk about what’s going on in his brain.
“He has that maturity, decision-making, what’s going on at the top – it’s big for midfielders. End of medicine, last pass, the kid has everything.”
Kane: Jude has a great little talent
Harry Kane’s goal was his first at this World Cup, after leaving with the Golden Boot in Russia four years ago
England captain Harry Kane, who owed much of his first game against Senegal to Bellingham’s part in the build-up, was asked about his young teammate who scored his 52nd England cap.
Kane played just one top-flight game during his time as a midfielder, and he agreed when asked if he was one of the best players in the world.
“He’s up there,” he said. “I think he’s a very good player. He has everything with and without the ball. He works well, he moves around the pitch, he chases.
“With the ball he can run, take the players, play the ball, and as you saw today he was very important for our goal. I like Jude a lot. He is a very good person. He is mature for his age, he has done very well. leadership skills.
“All I can say is keep learning, keep working. He’s got a lot of years ahead of him and I’m sure he’ll want to keep improving. It’s great to be with him.”
Dorsett: Is Bellingham the most important player in England?
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Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett assesses England’s performance in their 3-0 win over Senegal.
Sky Sports news chief reporter Rob Dorsett was in Qatar to watch England cruise to victory, and questioned whether Bellingham, who had just 10 England caps earlier in the year, was now their most important player.
“Jude Bellingham is the best player in the world, and probably the most important player in England at the age of 19,” he said. “His friendship and partnership with Jordan Henderson is growing on and off the pitch.
“Gareth Southgate also got big calls. In the first group game vs Iran, Sterling and Saka scored three goals between them. In the third group game vs Wales, Rashford and Foden scored three goals.
“Today, Saka and Foden were the big calls. Saka has one goal, and Foden got two assists. Southgate seems to be having a Midas touch with what he has chosen right now.
“To make matters worse, Harry Kane has opened his World Cup account. He is one goal behind Rooney, and now holds the sole record for most goals scored by an England player in major tournaments.
“And, overall, England got through their first knockout game, and had the chance to change and rest some players for the quarter-final v France next weekend.”
