AMAZING V AMAZING

It's Bellingham against the Brazilians tonight and Southgate says that Jude looks the Rio deal

- JOHN CROSS

JUDE BELLINGHAM is the England player who would walk into the Brazil team.

Real Madrid superstar Bellingham, 20, has the talent to rub shoulders with Brazil galacticos Vinicius, Junior and Rodrygo at club level.

Bellingham will play as England's No.10 against the South Americans tonight having grown in class and stature during his time in Madrid and will go to the Euros this summer as one of the best players in the world.

England manager Gareth Southgate has no fear about putting extra responsibility on Bellingham's shoulders but still expects other players to step up.

At the start of the week Southgate reminded his players that, when he took over in 2016, they were outside the world's top 10 but are now third in the FIFA rankings, two places above five-time World Cup winners Brazil.

Bellingham (above, with his manager) is at the heart of England's rise up the rankings and Southgate accepts that now is the time to give him the freedom to express himself rather than be tied to a disciplined midfield job.