Jude saves English blushes

London, March 27: Jude Bellingham scored at the death to salvage a 2-2 draw for England at Wembley on Tuesday after Youri Tielemans struck twice for Belgium in the final match before Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 selection.

Injury-hit England — among the favourites to win the Euros in Germany — were bright in attack but Tielemans capitalised on defensive lapses.

The Aston Villa midfielder scored an early opener after a bad error from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and headed home a second later in the first half after Ivan Toney had equalised from the penalty spot.

Belgium, without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, took the lead in the 11th minute in bizarre fashion.

Pickford tried to play a cross-field pass when out of position but could only pick out Everton teammate Amadou Onana, who released Tielemans and the midfielder coolly slotted into the bottom corner.

But the home side were level six minutes later when Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, making his first international start, combined with Bellingham before the Real Madrid defender fed Toney, who was tripped by Jan Vertonghen.

Toney, leading the attack in the absence of captain Harry Kane, took the resulting penalty himself, stroking the ball home nonchalantly to make it 11.

With the game opening up, Jeremy Doku forced Pickford into a smart save while England forward Jarrod Bowen had a headed goal ruled out for offside.

Bellingham fluffed his lines when he fired over from close range with only goalkeeper Matz Sels to beat. Instead it was the visitors — fourth in the FIFA world rankings, one place below their opponents — who regained the lead, to the delight of their vocal band of fans.

Lewis Dunk failed to deal with a long ball over the top and Belgium captain Romelu Lukaku pounced. —