Bellingham silences doubters to seal World Cup starting spot in England's final rehearsal

Jude Bellingham put his World Cup starting place beyond serious question with a dominant performance as England faced Costa Rica at the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, in Thomas Tuchel’s last competitive warm-up before the tournament opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.

The evening had been framed as a final audition. Morgan Rogers, a Tuchel favourite, had vocal support from those who wanted the Aston Villa attacker to start at No 10. England still have a scrimmage against Miami United to come, but this was the last meaningful test — and Bellingham passed it emphatically.

From the opening whistle he set the tone, launching a 30-yard sprint to press Costa Rica’s Darryl Araya. It was a statement of intent from a player who has sometimes been accused of chasing the spectacular at the expense of the collective. Much of his work here was the opposite: selfless, simple, and relentless. He laid the ball off to better-placed team-mates, knitted play together through neat combinations with Elliot Anderson and Ezri Konsa, and when Noni Madueke wasted a sharp pass from him, Bellingham offered a quick, supportive word rather than frustration.

That uplifting effect on his own side was matched by a dispiriting one on the opposition. Costa Rica deployed captain Orlando Galo to shadow him and centre-back Fernan Faerron to physically contest him at set pieces — a measure of the fear factor Bellingham’s reputation commands even before a ball is kicked.

Anderson’s control in central midfield and Anthony Gordon’s pace down the left gave England further encouragement, but the travelling support made clear who they had come to watch. “Juuuuude” rang around the stadium as fans sang about reaching the final in New York. The belief was palpable.

At 22, Bellingham is heading into only his fourth major tournament with England, yet he has already won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid. His youth is easily forgotten amid the weight of expectation placed on him. Tuchel now has little reason to look elsewhere at No 10 when England kick off their World Cup campaign.