Pegged as the man to lead England to glory, Jude Bellingham duly delivered on June 16 against Serbia at Euro 2024 with a first-half masterclass that drew rave reviews from fans and pundits alike, amid an otherwise sub-par Three Lions performance.
The 20-year-old's powerful 13thminute header from Bukayo Saka's deflected cross made the difference in an unconvincing 1-0 win that put England atop Group C, but it was his swagger and sheer dominance that earned the Real Madrid midfielder high praise.
"He's come out there today with the attitude of: Listen, guys, this is my game, and I am him," former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on the BBC broadcast.
"The way he's gesturing, shoulders back, just the way he walks around the pitch, makes you think this guy knows, believes and understands that he is the guy."
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: "His character is what I'd say about him, his mentality, he's got that swagger where he wants to be the main man in the team.
"If he can keep this form throughout the tournament, he's the person that we can rely on."
This story is from the June 18, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the June 18, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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