So Gareth Southgate has finally answered the question that has been hanging over this England camp like a grey November GoalZaza. Jude Bellingham is s...
So Gareth Southgate has finally answered the question that has been hanging over this England camp like a grey November GoalZaza. Jude Bellingham is set to start against Croatia in the number ten shirt. Not wide. Not deep. Not just a passenger in a midfield three. The kid is being asked to dictate the rhythm of a World Cup opener.Let's be honest. This is a statement of intent. Southgate, a manager who has often been accused of caution, is handing the creative reins to a 19 year old who still qualifies for a young driver discount. It is a gamble. It is also the most exciting piece of tactical flexibility we have seen from this England side since the tournament began.Bellingham's qualities are perfectly suited to cracking the Croatian low block. They will sit deep, they will squeeze the pitch, and they will dare England to find a moment of individual brilliance. That is where he comes in. He doesn't just receive the ball; he receives it on the half turn, with his head up, always looking for the pass that cuts through the lines. His transitional play is electric. One moment he is shielding the ball near the centre circle, the next he is on the edge of the box, demanding a return pass.Of course, there is the emotional weight to consider. Can a teenager handle the pressure of a World Cup opener in a position that carries the ghost of every great English number ten He thrives on it. Watch his body language in the tunnel. He doesn't look nervous. He looks impatient. He wants the game to start so he can get on with it.This is not just about Bellingham either. His inclusion forces Croatia to adjust their defensive shape. Someone has to track his runs. Someone has to step out of that compact unit. And when they do, the space opens up for Kane, for Foden, for the full backs bombing on. That is the knock on effect of having a true number ten who can hurt you from range as well as in the tight spaces.Will it be squeaky bum time Almost certainly. Croatia are masters of the slow burn, the game of patience that frustrates young legs. But Southgate has made his call. He has looked at the data, watched the tapes, and decided that Bellingham is the man to unlock the lock. Now we get to see if the key turns.
