The “Bellingham burst” has a certain ring to it. With almost half an hour played Wembley had shown its first signs of descending into an unnervingly familiar tetchiness, a groundswell of dissatisfaction brewing as England’s defenders passed the ball in front of a static midfield. Italy had begun as if resigned to be bullied but now, a goal up and with palpable wind in their sails, they appeared to have Gareth Southgate’s players where they wanted them. This Azzurri side are a pale imitation of many that have gone before but they had lured their hosts into the kind of slow, vacant buildup from which little good usually comes.
Fortunately for England, Jude Bellingham’s involvement brings with it near-guaranteed excellence. Almost immediately it was Bellingham who, at the end of a run that decimated Italy’s engine room and pierced the heart of their defence, strained every sinew to get toe on ball ahead of a lunging Giovanni Di Lorenzo and earn the penalty that teed up an altogether more uplifting remainder. It was the kind of game-breaking gambit Bryan Robson would look fondly upon and, marvellously, it would not be his last. England will compete at Euro 2024, as if there had ever been too much doubt about that, and on an evening of fits and starts their setup showed enough to suggest it will coax exhilarating things from Real Madrid’s newest superstar when tournament mode clicks in.
Southgate had liked what he saw when this starting XI, the centre-backs aside, eased past a useful Scotland side in Glasgow last month. With the caveats that Bukayo Saka and perhaps Luke Shaw will be reinstated if fit, it felt like a team manicured for the big occasion: an approximation of the lineup their manager feels can, with a blend of guts and grace, pass the more serious challenges when they come around next summer.
Italy had dealt England the ultimate test in their previous visit to Wembley and, for Southgate’s squad, the scars from narrowly failing to pass it will only fully heal with victory in Germany. That day Wembley had been shrill, fevered, disgraced too by the disorder that erupted all around. This occasion initially felt far lower in pitch, tallying with the curious vibe Kyle Walker had identified in the buildup. The prevailing habit among onlookers, Walker suggested, was to “pick the negatives” and take England’s embracing of consistency for granted.
Reliability within his own system is what Southgate, as he has shown time and again, values ahead of handwringing over a player’s club status. Nine days previously Kalvin Phillips, nowhere near Manchester City’s lineup despite the suspension of Rodri, had cut an anomalous bib-wearing figure at the Emirates as he teed up his teammates to take shots in the warm-up. Here he took centre stage alongside Declan Rice, just as he had in that ill-fated final. The kicker this time was that Bellingham, an unused substitute that day, had licence to maraud in front of them. Every creative maestro needs his safety blanket.
When Phillips picked up an early booking for messily scything Davide Frattesi, the fabric appeared to be wearing thin. There were certainly question marks when, after Gianluca Scamacca’s well-taken opener and even in the wake of that first explosion from Bellingham, Italy found pockets of opportunity around England’s back line. They were picking their way through a little too often and would have been ahead again at the change of ends if Destiny Udogie had beaten Jordan Pickford. But Bellingham, burst and all, had merely served up an appetiser. England’s second was a triumph: an outstanding defensive and attacking goal all at once, seemingly purpose-built to showcase every positive attribute of its architects.
It began with a challenge by Rice on Scamacca near the 18-yard line as Italy threatened; then Bellingham, coursing with determination, slid in ahead of Nicolò Barella with a crunching, emphatic tackle and promptly turned on the afterburners. Quickly located via a sublime shimmy and release from Phil Foden, Bellingham made the fine margins count again by nicking the ball past Frattesi and watching half a pitch of possibilities open up. Via a pass left to Marcus Rashford and a thrilling, cracked finish England had completed the job.
This was sensational football: played on the edge and with the knowledge each millimetre gained might open doors for everybody wearing white. Harry Kane, with a reminder that he can produce moments from nothing too, wrapped proceedings up to chants of “We’re going to Germany” and not even a mixed reception for Jordan Henderson could detract from the enveloping feelgood factor.
Bellingham was replaced by Jack Grealish six minutes from time to the manner of ovation reserved for a hero. Perhaps this was the night Wembley, which resonated to the strains of “Hey Jude” after the final whistle, crowned a new one: England have a dynamic, relentless talent who can leave them bursting with pride nine months from now.
