After scoring England’s second goal in the space of three minutes, Jude Bellingham raised his arms in front of the ecstatic away supporters. In defeating Scotland, England was led by Jude Bellingham.
The Brummie Galactico’s newly branded celebration, which he has been using since joining Real Madrid, came as a sweet rebuke to a Scotland team that had been threatening to play above their level.
Bellingham pretended to be Christ the Redeemer looking down on Rio, as if to warn the audience to “sit down, shut up, and get back in your box.” The troublesome neighbors eventually fell silent. Real paid a nine-figure transfer price for the English player, perhaps in recognition of his immense potential. England’s Phil Foden scored the game’s first goal.Against a Scotland team that believed they had a strong chance of defeating the auld enemy and had a perfect qualifying record for the Euros, Bellingham led a brash England effort.
Bellingham has the ideal level of haughtiness. Harry Maguire had given Scotland new life by first showing up at the half and then, to the delight of the home crowd who had been continuously tormenting him, by scoring an own goal. Bellingham, who also assisted Phil Foden on his first goal, then provided Harry Kane with an incredible assist on England’s third goal to put an end to the Scots. Kyle Walker’s errant shot was deflected by Foden past Angus Gunn.After scoring, Southgate turned to the crowd and gave it a full double fist-pump. No matter how much they attempt to portray this event as nice, it still matters.
And the Tartan Army is just as worried about it as the English are. The Scots were in a state of unusual enthusiasm as they were on the verge of qualifying for the Euros next summer, and Glasgow had become party central.
The Proclaimers were threatening to embark on one long walk after another, there were guys in skirts everywhere you turned, and the huge screens were announcing “150 years of glory,” which we must have missed south of the border.
Bellingham increased England’s advantage.God Bless The game started after the King was severely reprimanded, the bagpipes played a terrible tune, and the minute of silence for the tragically deceased Scotland manager Craig Brown was ruined. The England team still had a lot of experience despite Southgate making six changes to his starting lineup from the tiresome draw against Ukraine. England began the game by controlling the ball and not contributing much, similar to how Poland did on Saturday.
The midfielder maintained the strong form he’s displayed while playing for Real Madrid.It took the visitors 25 minutes of probing before they created a decent opportunity, despite Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips relishing the midfield hound work.
Kyle Walker, a Manchester City defender, came within inches of scoring England’s second goal in as many games after going 76 without one thanks to a feed from Marcus Rashford to Bellingham, whose overhit cross found Walker to drive wide of the far post. However, England took the lead with a goal that oozed quality in the 32nd minute. The goal began with a throw-in from left-back Kieran Trippier, and nine passes later—including a stunning over-the-shoulder pass from Rashford to Bellingham—Walker released Foden, who scored. With an own goal, Harry Maguire gave Scotland a chance to win.Although there was much discussion before the game regarding Foden’s best position and he has rarely played to his best ability while wearing an England jersey, the City player is always a goal threat, no matter where he plays.
Before Foden’s shot had found the back of the net, Bellingham dashed out to mock the Scottish supporters. The vast majority of Hampden was in a wonderful silence at that moment, and two minutes later it was even quieter. It was yet another skillful passing movement from Southgate’s team, but after a Foden center from the left and a Bellingham backheel, the most crucial ball was the puzzling one that Scotland captain Andy Robertson delivered to Bellingham inside his own area.A superb save from Angus Gunn prevented Eberechi Eze from scoring.Rice laughed at his teammate’s bravery as the Real Madrid player happily grabbed it, slid past Angus Gunn, and stood for a while with his arms outstretched. Before halftime, Scotland joined in for a bit, but besides a few goalmouth scuffles, the English were not particularly troubled. Walker attacked Ryan Porteous during some heated afters, and Phillips was arrested for a tough challenge.
Harry Kane scored England’s third goalAt halftime, Maguire took over for Marc Guehi, and the Scottish supporters jeered ironically every time the former Manchester United captain touched the ball. Billy Gilmour’s shot just missed Aaron Ramsdale’s bar, but Bellingham was still strutting his stuff and found Harry Kane with a magnificent aerial back-heeled pass. Midway through the second half, however, everything changed when Maguire stretched out a boot to stop Lyndon Dykes, a substitute, from receiving a low cross from the right, and diverted the ball beyond Ramsdale.
The Hampden roar returned like a mocking thunderstorm, and the Scots were cock-a-hoop, especially when they learned who had accidentally scored the goals.
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Kane’s goal made sure of the win for EnglandWhen Robertson whipped in a cross, John McGinn narrowly missed the target at the near post, and England briefly shook. To replace Foden and Rashford, Southgate brought in Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. And shortly after receiving his second cap, the Palace wideman was put through on goal, but Gunn made a smothering stop. Bellingham launched a gliding dribble that required Gunn to make yet another save.
Bellingham then gave Ryan Christie a wild twist as a toast and snuck a pass-through for Kane to drive past Gunn. By benching his finest player, Southgate showed some clemency, but Hampden was quickly emptying and all the gloating was in English.
