Brazil leave Bellingham badly bruised
THE letter ‘B’ is the first in the name ‘Bellingham’. It is also the first letter of the words ‘battered’, ‘bruised’ and ‘bullied’.
All four went hand-in-hand here at Wembley last night as Brazil ruthlessly went about stopping English football’s pin-up boy.
Brazil’s strategy was clear. Rough him up. Torment him. Kick him from pillar to post. Stop Jude Bellingham by absolutely any means necessary.
Given the astonishing season he is having at Real Madrid, it’s probably the only way to stop him. Lucas Paqueta took a chunk out of him. So did Bruno Guimaraes. They weren’t alone.
Bellingham should take it as a compliment, although his body may not take it quite so well when he wakes up this morning.
Of course, it comes with the territory of being an elite attacking footballer. Ask Kylian Mbappe. Ask Lionel Messi. Ask Cristiano Ronaldo.
It’s something Bukayo Saka has had to acclimatise to, but what Saka has done well is that he has learned not to bite.
But he makes his aggressors pay the ultimate price, without resorting to anything more sinister, with his brilliance on the pitch. Goals and assists. That’s where Saka’s true value is. The same goes for Bellingham.
There is no doubting
Bellingham can stand-up to such roughhouse treatment. Even at 20 years old, he is physically imposing. Tall and athletic, he can mix it if necessary.
An early challenge through the back of Guimaraes, for which Bellingham was booked, showed that he isn’t one to be pushed around.
That’s a trait in Bellingham’s allround game that sets him apart. Yes, the technical ability is exceptional — but there’s a physical edge that has contributed to his emergence as a generational talent.
Wayne Rooney was the same. Bursting with ability, but with an inherent fighting spirit.
But there were times when Rooney failed to temper his emotions, something that cost England and Manchester United.
Brazil’s treatment of
Bellingham last night is a sign of things to come. What’s important is that he somehow controls any urge to seek revenge through any means other than his footballing excellence.
If England are to win the European Championship this summer then their prodigious midfielder will be front and centre of their tilt at glory.
Already a hero in the eyes of England fans, cries of ‘Juuuuuuuuude’ boomed round Wembley just before kick-off.
Not since Rooney burst onto the scene in the 2000s has there been this level of delirium about a young English footballer.
When England travel to Germany this summer it will be this prodigiously talented 20year-old — and captain Harry Kane — who will carry the nation’s hopes. Of course, it will take more than Bellingham and Kane for England to end 58 years of hurt.
Immortality awaits England. It awaits Bellingham too, although the way his career is progressing there’s every chance he attains immortal status regardless of how England fare this year.
Deployed in a No10 role last night, Bellingham showed flashes of the brilliance that has seen him take Real Madrid by storm.
It was clear Southgate had relieved Bellingham of the defensive duties he’d usually perform so diligently as a box-tobox midfielder.
Whether Bellingham takes up a similar advanced role in
Germany remains to be seen. It will also likely depend on the opposition.
The temptation to play Bellingham deeper into the attacking third is clear — 20 goals in 31 appearances for Real this season speaks for itself. Against Brazil, you sensed he’d be more useful in a deeper role where he’d see more of the ball.
Southgate has three months to work all that out. But wherever he plays, Bellingham will be central to England’s aspirations this summer.