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Judd Bellingham’s place in England’s starting World Cup line-up was a matter of contention ahead of the tournament, pressured by the outstanding form of his boyhood friend Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers.
Tuchel, rightly, decided he could not do without Bellingham’s class and big tournament experience.
Rewarded with a crucial goal in their first World Cup win over Croatia, then, more significantly here, a game-changing performance against Panamanian opposition at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Bellingham worked alongside Rodgers while Tuchel rested Declan Rice, who is struggling with a hamstring injury and was on a yellow card.
The duo’s offensive instincts sometimes leave Elliott Anderson over-run and overworked as a single pivot, but Bellingham’s brilliance makes it work.
Despite Panama’s fairly obvious efforts to play in its fiery temper, Bellingham had the inspiration to force home the first goal, then cross for Harry Kane to head in the second, making the England captain the country’s leading World Cup finals scorer with 11, one ahead of Gary Lineker.
Bellingham and Kane have now made decisive contributions in wins over Croatia and Panama. How England needed them here.
Marcus Rashford, deservedly given a chance after two disappointing displays from Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon, was England’s brightest spark in the first half as he forced a save from Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, headed narrowly over, then dispatched a free-kick.
But frustration continued to mount until Bellingham’s quality and art was reflected with England’s opener, capping a man-of-the-match performance with his assist to Kane.
If England are to win the World Cup, they will need Bellingham at his best. This display indicates that he is in a delivery mood.
