Cometh the hour, cometh the man: Can Bellingham provide more goals for England?

Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal for England in their 4-2 victory over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, and it couldn't have come at a better time for both the player and the team.

The Three Lions are big favourites to win Group L and make a long run at this summer's tournament, and they got their campaign off to a great start in Dallas.

However, it wasn't as easy as the scoreline suggests, as the teams went into halftime tied at 2-2, with England boss Thomas Tuchel later admitting that his team were a bit nervous in the opening 45 minutes.

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"I loved the reaction"

Thomas Tuchel reflects on England's victory over Croatia

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Those nerves disappeared after the break as Bellingham slotted home England's third of the match — after Harry Kane's first-half brace — inside the first two minutes of the second half.

• Read next | England vs. Croatia player ratings: Who reigned supreme as Three Lions celebrate opening victory?

The goal was perfectly executed, with Elliot Anderson's delivery down the right flank charged onto by Bellingham, who showed an uncharacteristic burst of pace to get into the Croatia penalty area and lash a low, hard shot across the face of Dominik Livaković's goal and inside the far post.

Scored in the 47th minute, the goal turned the momentum firmly to England favour, with the Croatians left scrambling against a wave of attacks as the Three Lions' confidence grew, culminating in Marcus Rashford's late strike to put the result beyond reach.

For Bellingham, his second-half marker was his first goal in an England shirt for almost two years. The 22-year-old was given the No. 10 shirt by Tuchel despite seeing his production for his national team having dropped off under the German boss, and Bellingham rose to the level of that famed shirt number with a timely, morale-boosting strike just when his team needed it.

We know Bellingham can score goals — his breakout first season at Real Madrid showed as much — but since that glittering 2023-24 campaign he's been far quieter for both club and especially country, and with England relying heavily on Kane to provide the finishing it would be a great sign for the Three Lions if their still-young star can take some of the load off his captain's shoulders.

With England expected to play many more games in this tournament, a Bellingham that has rediscovered his scoring touch may be the last thing their opponents want to see.

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