For all the talent England have, one problem has followed them throughout the tournament: everything has relied on Harry Kane, but almost nobody has been feeding him properly.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have looked predictable in attack. Kane has done his job, scoring 13 goals in Tuchel’s first 17 games as England manager, while no other player has managed more than three. That’s an incredible return, but it’s also a warning sign. England simply can’t expect one man to carry the entire attack.
The biggest issue hasn’t been Kane’s finishing it’s been getting the ball to him in dangerous areas.
Think about it. Against Croatia, Kane scored from a penalty and a corner. Against Ghana, his biggest chance came from a rebound. In open play, England barely created anything meaningful for their captain.
Even more surprising was who was finding him. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford played as many passes to Kane in one game as anyone else. Defender Marc Guéhi topped the list in another. That tells you everything about England’s attacking struggles.
Then came Jude Bellingham.
Against Panama, Bellingham showed exactly why he’s one of the world’s best midfielders. Instead of simply keeping possession, he looked forward. He looked for Kane.
The numbers before this match were astonishing. Despite sharing over 1,100 minutes together for England at major tournaments, Bellingham had created just three chances for Kane. Three. For two players with this much quality, that’s almost unbelievable.
But against Panama, everything changed.
England had created very little for nearly an hour before Bellingham spotted Kane’s run and sliced open the defence with a perfectly weighted through ball. Suddenly, England had their first real big chance from open play. Moments later, Bellingham won a corner, scored from it himself, and then set up Kane for another goal.
In the space of ten minutes, England’s entire attack came alive.
It wasn’t just eye-catching football it was backed by the numbers. Bellingham produced 0.57 expected assists, the highest by any England player in a group-stage match. The chances he created for Kane ranked among the most valuable opportunities England generated all tournament.
That’s no coincidence.
Kane is one of the smartest strikers in world football. His movement has always been elite. The problem was never Kane it was having someone who could actually see those runs early enough and execute the pass. Bellingham did exactly that.
The chemistry between the two feels natural. Kane drifts between defenders, Bellingham drives forward with purpose, and suddenly England have something they’ve lacked for months: a genuine connection between midfield and attack.
Now comes Tuchel’s biggest challenge.
Against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, England are likely to face a stubborn low block. Breaking those teams down isn’t about endless crosses or slow possession. It’s about players brave enough to attempt the killer pass before defenders can react.
That’s where Bellingham becomes priceless.
If England can make the Bellingham-to-Kane partnership a regular feature instead of a one-off moment, this team suddenly looks far more dangerous. Kane doesn’t need ten chances a game he usually only needs one or two.
Against Panama, Bellingham finally started giving him those chances.
If this partnership continues to grow, England’s attack might finally have found the balance it’s been missing all tournament. And if you’re an England fan, that’s a terrifying thought for every team still standing in their way.
