Can Bellingham become England's superstar once more at the World Cup?

When Jude Bellingham uttered the words "who else?" in the direction of England's supporters after saving them from a humiliating exit with a spectacular overhead kick against Slovakia at Euro 2024, no-one even thought to argue.

Bellingham's acrobatics – with the clock at Gelsenkirchen reading 94 minutes 34 seconds – became an iconic moment as his stunning equaliser set up a 2-1 win after extra-time in the last 16.

England suffered familiar disappointment when losing to Spain in the final in Berlin, but Bellingham's status as the team's golden boy seemed assured.

Instead, two years on at the World Cup, Bellingham's star has not exactly fallen but it has certainly dimmed.

Bellingham will face Croatia in England's World Cup opener in Dallas on Wednesday intent on putting his international career in the ascendant once more after appearing to win the battle with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the No 10 role behind captain Harry Kane.

And, after tough love from England head coach Thomas Tuchel, Bellingham's World Cup build-up has appeared to be that of a player on a mission for glory, a special talent who can be a key figure in their quest to win the World Cup.

Tuchel's strict refusal to operate a star system, as well as the emergence of Aston Villa's outstanding Rogers, has made Bellingham's place the subject of intense debate, a notion unthinkable after Euro 2024.

So turn the phrase "who else?" back towards Bellingham - the "who else?" in his England world became boyhood friend Rogers and a single-minded head coach without a care for reputations and status.

The relationship between player and coach has occasionally appeared fragile, with Tuchel apologising after revealing his own mother sometimes viewed Bellingham's on-field behaviour as "repulsive" following the friendly loss at home to Senegal last June.

Tuchel, whose brutal honesty can sometimes be unfiltered, admitted he used the word "unintentionally" – but then created a further stir by leaving Bellingham out of England's squad for the friendly at home to Wales and the World Cup qualifier away to Latvia last October, even though the Real Madrid star wanted to be included after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Image caption,

England head coach Thomas Tuchel's relationship with Jude Bellingham has not always run smoothly.

Bellingham's interrupted England career, through shoulder and hamstring injuries as well being left out of the squad by Tuchel, is reflected in the statistic that he has only made nine starts in the 20 games they have played since the Euro 24 final.

Since arriving in the United States following a mixed season at Real Madrid, Bellingham has looked fit, fired up and – significantly – integrated in Tuchel's squad as they aim to end a barren sequence for the men's team stretching back to the 1966 World Cup.

Bellingham was seen in England's dressing room presenting Liverpool's 17-year-old Rio Ngumoah with his first cap following his debut against New Zealand in Tampa, a sign of seniority even though he is still only 23.

So are the cards falling into place for the player mentor Jordan Henderson, who took Bellingham under his wing when he came into the England squad in 2020, believes will give Tuchel's team the vital "X Factor" at the World Cup?

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who will be BBC Radio Five Live's analyst at their games, said: "From what we've seen out here and from what we've heard from the camp and his team-mates, stuff from behind the scenes, England are getting the Jude Bellingham of old back for the World Cup. He looks as fit and focused as he has for a long time.

"I'd pick him to start. 100%. Morgan Rogers doesn't deserve to lose his place but Bellingham is a big-game player. I'm not saying Rogers isn't, but Bellingham has experience at World Cups and Euros and playing in big tournaments for Real Madrid. He's won the Champions League."

Robinson added: "He just has that something others don't have. If his attitude and application is right, you play him. If you get him onside, fit and functioning from day one, that will be a massive factor in this tournament for England.

"Tuchel has made big calls with him, and the relationship between Jude and the coach has been brought into question, but look at Bellingham's experience. He has got 37 competitive caps. This counts for a lot in a major tournament."

Bellingham currently has 48 caps and is poised to play in his third major tournament.

Tuchel's approach with Bellingham may just have got this naturally-gifted player with a fierce competitive edge coming to the boil at the perfect time.

"Thomas Tuchel was brought in to do one job," says Robinson. "I know he's extended his contract, but his mission is to win the World Cup, regardless of how he does it. And he clearly doesn't mind who he upsets along the way.

"Tuchel is not picking players because they have a certain name or reputation. Bellingham has had to earn his place.

Image caption,

Boyhood friends Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers have emerged as rivals for the No 10 role in England's World Cup side.

"Whether this has been to give him a wake-up call or a kick up the backside we don't know, but in the friendlies out here against New Zealand and Costa Rica we have seen the Bellingham of old."

And Bellingham will know he must produce because Tuchel has proved more than willing to play Rogers in the role behind captain Harry Kane should form falter.

Robinson said: "You've always got something to prove when you're a player of that calibre. Natural talent comes easy. Hard work doesn't. Combining the two makes the best players.

"England are a far better and stronger team with Bellingham in it, but he will know very clearly he is not irreplaceable. Harry Kane is irreplaceable, but Bellingham isn't because there is Morgan Rogers.

"It would weaken England if he doesn't play - but he's not irreplaceable."

England team-mate Henderson is in no doubt about the impact Bellingham could have, saying: "He gives us something really special. An 'X Factor'. He has had big moments. He is a big-game player.

"Jude is a huge, huge player for us. Anyone in the group will tell you how good he is as a team-mate."

England's cause may even be helped by Bellingham believing Tuchel now has the right formula after telling the Football Association's Lions' Den show: "At the Euros (2024) we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch.

"I don't feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons. Expectation was part of it - we had done well in 2018 and done well in the Qatar World Cup and when it came to that tournament we were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it.

"We were not playing particularly well so even when we were winning you didn't get the feeling you were as happy as you should be."

Bellingham is now back playing with his usual edge, but also with a smile on his face – and that is what England and Tuchel will want when their World Cup campaign starts in Dallas.