The thing about Jude Bellingham is that people are in awe of him. How could you not be. He has the unmistakeable air of greatness about him. Heâs physically perfect in every way. Heâs gorgeous. Heâs articulate. Heâs intelligent. He seems lovely. He moves like a gazelle. Heâs very good at football and is most likely a superb lover, tender, considerate but intense where you need to be intense. He probably has a phenomenal taste in music and no doubt is an incredibly smart dresser. He probably has really good political views.
Itâs just that he may not be that good at football when he has to play for England in a major finals and may be subject to the exact same inexplicable shrinkage and withering as every other top English player at major finals tournaments since Michael Owenâs brief period of deliverance.
But even if he turns out to be shit at major finals tournaments for England, itâs because heâs so clearly too good for England and Englishness.
I wouldnât have England in the top 4. Spain, France, Germany and Portugal well ahead of them technically. Donât believe the hype about Rice in particular. Foden was awful last night. Denmark game will be interesting. Denmark will fancy their chances.
I agree with Didi that Southgate fecked up his team selection last night because he was trying to please too many people. Political reasons, as I anticipated.
His team last night smacked of the decade long obsession with picking Gerrard and Lampard together when everybody knew it didnât work. It smacked of a team that a child would have picked.
England wonât grow into the tournament with the team they picked last night. Southgate has to rip it up at least somewhat.
English teams need to be functional above all and that means the manager has to take tough decisions. English players donât have the football IQ to control big international tournament games, at international level they canât do what they do at club level, they canât play at top pace in highly rehearsed all encompassing systems like Guardiolaâs or Kloppâs, they have to be regimented within a stripped back, functional system.
Foden has done fuck all at major tournaments for England. His inclusion is political. Alexander-Arnoldâs inclusion is political. Bellingham and Saka have to be the main men you build your team around.
Romania taking the 10 jersey off the lad who wore it all qualifying and giving it to Hagi just so they can sell âHagi 10â jerseys is peak consumerism and Iâm here for it
Lunin got absolutely done by the corner there, very very lucky, and was at fault for the goal. Ukraine are decent enough technically but Romania playing at a very high pace when they get the ball.
Both teams play in all yellow and have identical kits manufactured by Joma. I genuinely wasnât sure which team was in the change colours and which wasnât.
I think this is Keith Treacy on co-commentary with the essential John Kenny in the insulated Bell branded freight container. Listening to Treacy is like listening to a less malignant version of Gavin Pepper.
Foden was essentially player of the year off the back of hat-tricks against a reserve Aston Villa team and Brentford. A nice goal against a mediocre Man United team too.