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Jude Bellingham has rediscovered the swagger that defined his early days at Real Madrid, producing a string of standout performances for both club and country this season. His latest statement came on international duty, where he capped off a brilliant break for England with a man-of-the-match showing as the Three Lions thrashed Croatia 7-0 in the UEFA Nations League.
The performance was so complete that it drew unprompted praise from former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, a pundit not known for handing out compliments freely.
Keane in Awe of Bellingham
The Irishman was blunt in his assessment, suggesting the midfielder was playing on an entirely different level to the opposition.
“Jude Bellingham vs Croatia? It looks like a grown man playing against little children. It’s like patting your kids on the head,” he said.
Keane went further, pointing out that Croatia’s struggles were not down to poor defending but simple physical mismatch.
“He’s such a good player and physically you can’t blame Croatia because they can’t get near him,” the former midfielder added.
It was a rare glowing endorsement from Keane, underlining just how dominant Bellingham was on the night.
Bellingham’s Performance in Numbers
The statistics backed up every word of Keane’s praise. Bellingham delivered a complete midfield showing, contributing in attack and defense alike.
- One goal and three assists
- Eight chances created, four of them big chances
- Both crosses completed
- Six of seven long balls completed
- Four of six dribbles completed
- Eight duels won
- One interception, two recoveries, two defensive contributions
- Fouled three times as Croatia struggled to contain his power
It was the kind of all-action, match-defining display that has become routine for Bellingham this season. Operating in a free attacking role, he has been given license to influence games in every third of the pitch, and the results speak for themselves.
Gordon Also Impresses
Bellingham was not the only Englishman to catch the eye. Barcelona star Anthony Gordon also turned in an impressive performance on the night, adding further depth to England’s attacking options heading into the next international window.
Read also: Greece vs Germany Prediction: 04.10.2026 UEFA Nations League
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