Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand were left in complete awe by the performance of Jude Bellingham in England's opening World Cup win over Iran.
The 19-year-old started for his country and scored England's opener as they cruised to a 6-2 thumping at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Monday. It was the perfect start for Gareth Southgate's men who were three-nil up at the break.
Bukayo Saka scored twice, while goals from Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish added to Bellingham's 35th-minute header which set the ball rolling. But it wasn't just the teenager's goal which had pundits purring, as they hailed his all-round display at the heart of England's midfield.
Speaking on BBC Sport, Shearer said: "It's all about having a positive start, you know what it does to your confidence. Every time they went forward they looked a threat, it was a really impressive performance."
Adding of Bellingham, the ex-England captain said: "There was so many [good performances] but the young boy, can we call him that? He’s a man now, oh my word what a performance."
Rio Ferdinand was in complete agreement with Shearer having been left stunned by the maturity Bellingham showed, which he says belied his tender age. "How confident and composed he was on the pitch, it goes well beyond his years," Ferdinand said.
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"He’s a fabulous footballer, delivering at a World Cup and at that age. We talk about the great midfielders, none of them were doing what he’s doing on this stage, I’m not saying he’s better but none of them were doing this. It’s fabulous to see."
Micah Richards was equally as enthusiastic, saying: "His energy, everything about him. He just doesn’t stop. People see him playing week in and week out at Dortmund, questioning the league, it’s strong but in the Champions League he’s the best of the best.
"He’s really come to life there, that pass there, at the end of the game he’s still got the energy. Full complete performance it really was."
Bellingham has been in superb form for Borussia Dortmund this season prior to the World Cup and has even captained them on several occasions despite being one of the younger members of the team. He always looked a shoe-in to be included in England's starting lineup for the tournament and flourished in a midfield three alongside Declan Rice and Mason Mount.
Speaking after the victory, Bellingham said of his first goal for his country: "I told you I was saving it! Really good day, scoring six goals at a World Cup is impressive whoever you play against.
"They came out well, very strong, we didn’t have anything clear for a long time, the start was tough and we had to dig in even when we wasn't getting it all our own way so it’s important we learned how to create chances against sides like that but we’re disappointed with the two goals [conceded]."
Bellingham diverted a Luke Shaw cross over the Iran goalkeeper with a looping header to break the deadlock, but admitted he wasn't certain he had done enough to open the scoring.
"To be honest I thought it missed and it took ages to go in," he said. "But I told you I wanted to score more goals for Dortmund and England. It was a great ball from Shaw, I was there to flick it away and a great moment."
Saka scored his first with a sumptuous half-volley which clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in, before Sterling finished off a Harry Kane cross to put England in control at the break. It didn't take long for Saka to add his second with a well-taken curling effort.
Iran then grabbed a consolation when Mehdi Taremi snuck in behind England's defence before firing into the roof of the net past Jordan Pickford. Their celebrations were short-lived, however, as Rashford scored immediately after coming on as a substitute after cutting past his man and slotting the ball home.
Grealish then added a sixth late on but Taremi grabbed another goal for Iran in stoppage time after VAR intervened to award a penalty as John Stones was penalised for a shirt pull in the box.
Asked what Southgate said in the dressing room after the game, Bellingham said: " He said enjoy the wins because it would’ve been a different reaction had we not got that result. But we need to look at the next game and realise there’s another challenge coming.
Wins do that, when you win you’re at ease for longer and you know it [the pressure is] off you. We’ll still be at the same level trying to get two more wins, that’s how we want to carry our momentum into the next two games."
