Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Paul Merson says Jude Bellingham has the X-factor to help England win the World Cup.
The Real Madrid midfielder scored twice – the first player in consecutive knockout stage games at a World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986 in a 2-1 win over Norway that set up a semi-final against Argentina.
Nine of Bellingham’s 12 England goals have come in major tournaments and his six goals in the tournament make him the only England player to score at least five goals in a single World Cup, alongside Lineker (1986) and Harry Kane (2018, 2026).
And Merson, speaking Sky Sports NewsBellingham and captain Harry Kane think England have a chance of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
Read Merson’s thoughts on England’s win over Norway and their full World Cup potential!
‘The team won the league, X-Factor won the World Cup – and Bellingham has it’
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rob Dorsett gives his verdict on England’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Norway
Just a few months ago we were debating whether it was Judd Bellingham or Morgan Rodgers playing.
How crazy are we even thinking about it?
No disrespect to Rodgers but Bellingham is on another level.
He is a superstar.
Jude Bellingham once again saved the day for England
For the second goal, the rebound, it’s his movement. He goes in and then gets the ball back out and he’s the only one that goes for it.
The teams won the league. X-Factor wins the tournament.
We have an X-Factor player in Jude Bellingham, and so does Harry Kane. We have a lot of X-Factor with those two.
When you have players like that, you always have a chance to win the tournament.
It wasn’t Kane’s best day against Norway but on this occasion, Bellingham stepped up. He is an absolute superstar.
‘Bellingham on England’s way to greatness’
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol analyzes England’s nerve-wrecking 2-1 win over Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals
You have to say he is well on his way to becoming an England great.
He already has 50 caps at 23.
He always plays for England, especially in big tournaments. He is a big game player and also, he is a Real Madrid player.
He is a proper, proper footballer.
You see a lot of good players but there are levels. He is leveling up very quickly to get close to the top players.
Even though England have Bellingham, they have always had a chance.
‘England need to play better – and Tuchel knows it’
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Thomas Tuchel has called for improvement within his England squad and responded to the Spidercam controversy
The performance against Norway was not great in general, but we won.
I don’t think people realize how hot it is in America and the difficulties that brings. It’s boiling hot there. I’ve been to Orlando on vacation and sitting around the pool is bad enough. That long time to play football in that heat, even overtime, is fair game for the players. It was an amazing effort from both sets of players.
I can see why Thomas Tuchel wasn’t too happy in his post-game interview.
He should have been unhappy because the players were making bad mistakes.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jude Bellingham has hit back at Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of England’s performance against Norway
Tuchel is an elite manager. So England brought him into the team.
He is not stupid. He knows that if England play like that, not so much against Argentina, against France or Spain, we will be blown away. He knows that and that’s why he said it after beating Norway.
We are number four in the world and we are in the semi-finals. That is where we should be. At Wimbledon, you expect the top four to make it to the last four. If they don’t, they’ve failed.
So, job one we’ve done. We are in the last four. After that, reaching the final exceeded expectations. That’s the way I think we should look at it.
‘World Cup glory is approaching’
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Hayley McQueen reacts to England’s win over Norway that sets up a World Cup semi-final against Argentina
Whoever wins the World Cup will be lucky. No World Cup-winning team can say they weren’t lucky at one point.
We had a bit of luck along the way, and it got us into the semi-finals against a team in Argentina who didn’t like us.
I remember France ’98 when we lost to them (on penalties in the last 16).
The coaches were right next to each other in the car park and I’ll never forget the Argentine players knocking on the window with their shirts off.
It wasn’t the best and that’s why the game will always have something added.
We have no problem playing Argentina. I can see them beating, even the way we’re playing right now, it’s not perfect.
My only concern is if we lose to Argentina. We cannot play the way we are playing and beat France or Spain.
England are good enough to win the World Cup. They have good enough players to win the World Cup.
But they have to be better. They will get the simple things right.
I personally didn’t think I’d see England win the World Cup in my lifetime, but we’re getting closer.
