Bellingham's muted display saved by menace of Madrid

It’s the sort of image you can see being brought up in the future, maybe even this summer.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

England captain Harry Kane was sizing up a penalty, and there was the England captain-in-waiting muttering in his ear. They just happened to be on different teams in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Whatever Jude Bellingham said, it didn’t matter. Kane wasn’t paying any attention. “I don’t know what he was saying. I saw him mumbling something. Once I’m in that moment, I’m in my zone, trying to block everyone out. I’m sure he was saying something to put me off.”

Kane stayed on course, doing what he always does. He scored for Bayern Munich, to make it 2-1. Real Madrid did equalise with a penalty of their own, but that was after Bellingham had gone off. He didn’t do anything close to what he’s been doing lately. It was maybe the first clouding of an image that has so far been bathed in light.

This was Bellingham’s first Champions League semi-final and he was poor. Indeed, he didn’t do much other than mouth off. On the few occasions when he got on the ball to make something happen, Bellingham tried Hollywood passes that were short, and then berated teammates for not reaching them. Carlo Ancelotti felt he had no choice but to reach for the board. Bellingham was subbed off.

The discussion in these situations can sometimes go two ways. On one side, there will be the potential for backlash. After enjoying nothing but praise in a remarkable rise over four years,