ESPN has written a long article analyzing Bellingham’s tactical value in the England national team.
The article reads as follows:
“Bellingham is conquering everything in his usual style, calmly solving one problem after another for England. The Three Lions have finally found a player who can control the tempo and dominate the midfield in major tournaments.”
“In the match against Switzerland, even when Stones’ pass was not accurate, Bellingham remained calm, adjusting his body position and completing a turn to receive the ball. This dribble past the defense of Xhaka and Freuler, pushing England’s attack forward, is a microcosm of Bellingham’s playing style.”
“Also in the match against Switzerland, Bellingham completed 33 of 34 passes and won 4 of 5 challenges. According to statistics, Bellingham’s pass completion rate was as high as 96%, the highest among all midfielders in the European Championship since 1980.”
“The control of the midfield is crucial for the game. In the Euro 2021 final where England lost to Italy, the opposition had Verratti and Jorginho sitting in midfield, which prevented England from organizing a decent attack. In the 2018 World Cup, Croatia was highly competitive because Modric and Brozovic firmly controlled the tempo in midfield.”
“De Jong’s absence due to injury for the Netherlands forced the Oranje to prioritize defense and even show similar conservatism to Southgate. However, England has its own ‘De Jong’, the young Bellingham. In this upcoming semi-final, whoever wins the midfield control will sway the game.”
“This is a huge challenge for Bellingham. But perhaps, he already has a plan.”
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