According to Sky Sports expert Roy Keane, England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham could become one of the best players in the world.
The 23-year-old scored once and set up three more as England handed Croatia their heaviest defeat in the Nations League 7-0 in front of a reduced crowd in Rijeka.
Bellingham has been England’s standout player at the World Cup and has become the focus of Thomas Tuchel’s side, scoring 13 goals in his last 11 games since the start of the tournament.
Keane praised Bellingham after the win over Croatia, saying it was a complete performance from a player who has become “a great leader for England”.
“I think there is still a lot to do [Bellingham]”, Kean said on ITV.
“Bellingham could become one of the greatest players of all time.
“His attitude towards England recently… I give him credit for being fantastic in possession, but what he does when he doesn’t have it. It lifts all the players.
“When you have a player in your team who is so good, who is amazing in possession and plays for Real Madrid and does brilliant things, but his work rate is off the ball, it inspires all the other players.”
Keane said that England showed Croatia, which is ranked 14th in the world, as a “Gibraltar type team”.
Of England’s performance, Keane added: “Everything you want. A complete performance.”
Saka: ‘Special’ Bellingham deserved man of the match
Bukayo Saka, who scored twice for Tuchel’s side in Croatia, fully agreed with Keane on Bellingham’s performance as he praised the 2025/26 England Men’s Player of the Year winner.
“It was an amazing night for us,” Saka said ITV. “We played with high energy and spirit and we punished them tonight.
“He [Bellingham] tonight was amazing to be fair. He deserved player of the year and probably deserved man of the match tonight. He was special. I am happy to play with him and to be in the England team.”
Tuchel agreed with a reporter after the game that Bellingham had gone “to the next level”, but warned that in football “you can never stand still”.
Asked if he felt Bellingham had taken a step forward in his performances, Tuchel replied: “Yes, it seems so at the moment. [that] and always needed.
“The level you showed last week is never going to be enough next week, that’s just the nature of football. We’ve adjusted some things, given the players a lot of responsibility and they’re a group you have to trust.
“It was impressive. I think it’s the first time this group has played together like that again and they’ve been really good and the translation from the last two matches, training and meetings, to this match has been top notch.”
In Kane Tuchel’s formidable front four
Harry Kane and Bellingham landed in a formidable front four either side of Tuchel, Saka and Anthony Gordon.
All four were on the scoresheet against Croatia, who were completely crushed by England’s firepower.
Said Captain Kane of the front four ITV: “There is freedom. All four of us are good players, we can play as a pocket 10, Ant can play as a number 9, B can play at 10, Jude at 9, I can play as a midfielder.
“It’s very difficult for the opposition to pick it up. The bottom line is that if you lose the ball, we’re all smart enough and good enough to cover the middle or defence.
“That’s how we want to play. It was very difficult for them to pick and press.”
Analysis: Is there a better nation to watch in world football?
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett at Stadion HNK Rijeka:
“England sinks Croatia without trace on Adriatic coast, Good Ship Tuchel is full steam ahead after World Cup supporter revolt.
“Nobody could have predicted this complete dominance against the 14th ranked team in the world.
“England cut through Croatia’s woeful midfield and defense at will, like a red-hot knife carving through softened butter, and Tuchel’s forwards had a field day.
“Two goals for captain Kane, with an assist. Two goals for Saka, a timely confidence boost for the Arsenal man. A goal and an assist for the equally magnificent Anthony Gordon, plus a hat-trick of goals and an assist for the unstoppable Jude Bellingham.
“Croatia were simply blown away and England could have won more.
“When England are moving like that all over the pitch, winning back possession when they don’t have the right to do so, going forward at every opportunity and finishing ruthlessly, there is no better team to watch in world football.
“Seven nil in Rijeka doesn’t flatter them. It was a statement win and an indication of what they are capable of.”