Expert Tuukka Kotimäki raves about Jude Bellingham’s performance against Mexico: “He was absolutely amazing”

Already five goals shows that the entertainment value of the game was high. A red card and two penalty kicks belie the drama. It was further aggravated by a thunderstorm that delayed the start of the match by an hour.

England faced a high atmosphere, the roar of the legendary Azteca stadium and a charming home team. Still, the British left the Hornankattle with a 3–2 victory.

“Even if none of Mexico’s players could fit into England’s opener, this was England’s first measure of fitness. Azteca is a really difficult place for the away team to score,” expert Tuukka Kotimäki says.

“The victory raised England’s championship shares more than just a simple victory in the quarter-finals does.”

Kotimäki likes print first and foremost coach Thomas Tuchelin as a victory of the tournament plan and team mentality.

“This game showed that what Tuchel has wanted to emphasize in the team and player selections. England has a lot of tireless runners and workhorses. They are ready to put everything on the line.”

“In the center of the midfield Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson help the defense and finish all the runs. Wing packs help the defense with a ferocious work ethic. Even a top ten superstar Jude Bellingham is pressing wildly on the dune.”

Kotimäki says the intensity, fighting power and physicality of Tuchel’s proteges were exactly what Azteca needed.

“It wasn’t pretty. However, the team showed such commitment that you can’t help but admire it.”

Kotimäki appreciates the realism of Tuchel’s Game Plan.

“In the history of England’s prestigious competition, there are quite enough teams with skilled star players and wild potential that have fallen even because they have been too naive.”

Just tough of course, working is not enough. Exceptional individuals are also needed in the World Cup playoffs.

“Both the Norway-Brazil and Mexico-England matches showed that the playoffs are decided in important moments. Erling Haaland it showed what a difference one exceptional individual can make in those moments,” says Kotimäki.

“England, on the other hand, has two ice-cold solvers: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Then the team can be really effective in important moments. And that was England against Mexico.”

Kotimäki reminds that before the opening goal, England had been the receiving side for a long time in the match.

“Then Mexico’s defense kind of fell asleep for one attack. Rice was able to run on the right. Kane made a frontcourt run to make room for Bellingham, who headed in the first goal.”

The very next attack resulted in a 2-0 goal. That too was finished by Bellingham.

Kotimäki describes Bellingham as a player who looks like Tuchel.

“Someone may consider Bellingham an arrogant star player, but really he is a luxury class workhorse. He can also run behind the opposition and finish.”

“His performance against Mexico ranks among the great star moments in England’s history of value competitions. He was absolutely amazing,” says Kotimäki.

England meet Norway in the quarterfinals. The match will be played on the night between Saturday and Sunday Finnish time.

Rest days will be necessary for both teams. The intense match at an altitude of 2,241 meters certainly wore down the English. Haaland, on the other hand, couldn’t run at the end of the Brazil match.

Kotimäki considers England to be the favorite for the quarter-finals, and not only because of the player list, but because of the uniform style of play.

“England is not the tournament’s biggest favorite in my papers, but it can beat anyone. The danger of the team is not about the roster of players or great individual performances, but about the whole.”

“In England, everyone plays for the team, gives it their all, and they do it in a planned way,” summarizes Kotimäki.

However, England is not invulnerable. Mexico also had time to show that.

“England’s weak point is in their own box. The defensive line falls too easily too close to the goalkeeper Jordan Pickfordialeaving spaces for the second wave. From there Julián Quiñoneskin scored Mexico’s first goal.”

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