Jude Bellingham steps up, shows why he can lead England to World Cup glory

· Yahoo Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Stood with his arms wide in front of England's fans going bonkers as he gave his country the lead against Panama in New York City, Jude Bellingham once again showed he was England's man for the big occasion.

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He always delivers and he loves stepping up when it matters most. And boy did England need him on Saturday.

"Hey Jude!" rang out form the England fans on multiple occasions during the game as they lauded their charismatic playmaker. It was sung loud and proud after the game, as well as "Judeeeeee" being chanted when he was shown on the big screen.

When you speak to England fans about this World Cup there's a clear sense of extra urgency. They know they have a great chance to win it all with this hugely talented squad. But that constant sound in the back of their mind is a clock ticking away. Annoyingly. Bellingham plays like he hears it too.

He is England's spirit. He senses the anxiety, the demand to make something happens. Now. And he embraces it.

Once again, it was Bellingham who delivered when his country needed him most as they won Group L thanks to his second half exploits, as they huffed and puffed and struggled to break down Panama. Then Bellingham took over.

"For me, it was my responsibility to try to get the team going to another level," Bellingham told reporters afterwards. "But I think all the lads were ready to go after halftime, realizing we had more gears to go after a so-so start in the first half."

After his injuries for Real Madrid during the season, there was some talk about whether or not Bellingham would play a big role for England at this World Cup. Not now.

"I think he's in a sweet spot after his injury," England manager Thomas Tuchel told reporters afterwards. "He feels free and he can put in this kind of intensities in a short period of time now. That’s why we also take care of him at the moment after 60, 70, minutes. Because we saw in the last months that he did not produce these kind of intensities for club and country.

"When he does that, he's a key player, you know, he needs to play this intensity, he loves to have this kind of stage. We try to support him, help him to be a best version of himself."

Five of Bellingham's eight England goals have come in major tournaments. The Real Madrid star has already been England's match-winner in two games at this World Cup with a huge goal against Croatia to make it 3-2, and he then swung this game in England's favor with two moments of class in the space of five minutes to beat Panama.

First he somehow stuck out a telescopic leg to flick home a corner whilst simultaneously wrestling with a defender. Raising his arms to the grey New Jersey sky with his trademark celebration, Bellingham roared with delight and relief. So did England's fans.

A few minutes later he then danced his way down the left and past a defender before placing a perfect cross onto the head of Harry Kane to put England 2-0 up.

Bellingham joined in with Kane's trademark celebration and he not only loves the limelight, he lives for it.

England fan Grahame Waite, from just outside London, hailed Bellingham's ability and penchant for stepping up and says he is a generational talent.

"It seems like he's taking it upon himself to be that man that we have been looking for for, you know, 20 years since Wayne Rooney, maybe. We haven't had anybody who's really stepped up, and he takes it. He's the man... Especially now, especially with the treatment he got in the fact that he might not have been picked, and then he's got picked and they realize how brilliant he is. So, it bodes really well for us."

But against Panama it wasn't just the glory of his goal and the assist, it was Bellingham's general play that dazzled. He was everywhere during his 71 minutes on the pitch. His teammates sensed his urgency and even though they were sloppy on the ball, Bellingham's energy and tenacity was infectious.

He buzzed around in a slightly deeper role as England played a 4-1-4-1 formation and even though the Three Lions struggled to break down a stubborn Panama side and it looked like they may not win Group L, it was always Bellingham who looked the most comfortable marauding around midfield, launching into tackles and setting the tone for England's press.

Nobody on the pitch won more duels, made more tackles or won more fouls than Bellingham. He dominated.

England fans Warren Sieroczuk and Matthew Holdridge, from Doncaster, England originally but have flown to the USA from New Zealand to follow England throughout the tournament on a mammoth U.S. road trip, lauded Bellingham's ability.

"He does have the x-factor. He's stepped up. I think Bellingham is calm. Throughout that game you just felt like he was bringing something to it. You had that belief that something was going to come off. He just delivered. Unbelievable," Sieroczuk said.

"He's quality," Holdridge added. "You've just got to believe and they did it."

For so long the focus has been on Kane and his goalscoring exploits, and that is hugely important, but Bellingham in this type of form and mood is England's best hope of finally winning the World Cup again after a 60-year wait.

His team has to improve, and they will, but Tuchel has to get Bellingham in the positions where he can hurt opponents the most.

He has the x-factor and the charisma and driving spirit to do the unexpected. England need exactly that against teams who will sit deep and defend and hope for the best against them.

Bellingham knows he can be the difference. He proved it again in New. York. He loves the big moment and England loves him.

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