KB

🚨 Harry Kane on Jude Bellingham’s performance against Croatia: “I said something to Jude after the match. ‘You know, you’ve made the rest of us look a little lazy tonight.’ He smiled and said, ‘You scored twice.’ I said, ‘Exactly. And somehow I’m still standing here talking about you.’ One goal, three assists. I got two goals. Bukayo got two. Gordon was brilliant. And Jude somehow managed to leave fingerprints on almost everything. That’s what makes playing with him strange. Before my first goal, I see Jude with the ball and start moving. With some players, you’re making the run hoping they’ve seen you. With Jude, sometimes I think he’s seen the run before I’ve decided to make it. Goal. Later Gordon scores after Jude has helped move us through the pitch again, Bukayo gets involved, everybody is enjoying themselves. At half-time we’re four up. I remember sitting down and saying, ‘Jude, that’s enough now. Let somebody else play football.’ He just laughed. Then late in the game Morgan Rogers comes on. Fresh player. Probably thinking, ‘Six-nil, I’ll just enjoy the last twenty minutes.’ Jude apparently decides Morgan shouldn’t leave empty-handed either. Another pass. Goal. Third assist. Afterwards Morgan came over smiling and I told him, ‘Don’t get used to this. Normally international football is difficult.’ Jude was standing nearby and said, ‘Just make the run.’ That’s him. People have spent years debating his position. Is he an eight? Is he a ten? Should he play deeper? Should England build around somebody else? As captain, I’ve stopped caring what number you put next to his name. Put Jude where he can see the game. We’ll work out the rest. Because I’ve played with some unbelievable footballers for England, and the rare ones eventually reach a point where you stop being surprised by ridiculous performances. Tonight Jude scores once and assists three goals in a 7–0 win, and somehow nobody in our dressing room is shocked. That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give him. A few years ago, that performance would’ve announced Jude Bellingham. Now? It’s just Jude having a good night.”