"Who else?"
For 94 minutes and 31 seconds, he really wasn't all that good. This was not in the script, this abrupt ending to a glorious summer. A meek 0-1 defeat to Slovakia, with him barely landing a glancing blow... but here he was. A minute and a half away from elimination at the first knockout hurdle his England faced. This particular rendition of Hey Jude was starting to sound horribly off key in the warm Gelsenkirchen sun.
It wasn't supposed to end this way. Jude Bellingham may only be a day over 21, but he was the face of this star-studded England team. Like he had been for Real Madrid, from day one. There's an easy arrogance to Bellingham's being that allows him to do this; to take over teams no 21-year-old should be able to, to dominate the narrative around them in so complete a manner. He had starred in Real Madrid's incredible double-winning season and the general consensus had been that this was a Galactico and a half that Madrid had brought in. And he was supposed to light up Euro 2024 for England.
He had started the tournament with a goal which enhanced that aura, a 'give-me-that-ball' header that lifted England to victory in their opener. But it had been downhill since then. The nadir appeared to be this pre-quarterfinal against unfancied Slovakia.
England looked at sea throughout the match -- outplayed on the counter, unable to penetrate a well drilled defence in retaliation. For 94 minutes and 31 seconds, they hadn't even kept a legit shot on target. Bellingham had tried hard, as he always does, but pulled off very little. At times he held onto the ball too long, at others he was on a wavelength that no one else in white shared. His touch felt off and he was on a yellow card early on. Towards the end it felt surprising that he was still on the pitch, with England struggling so hard to create anything meaningful.
That's the thing with a right proper Galactico, though. All it takes is a moment.
"Who else?"
When Kyle Walker resorted to a good "old-fashioned (long) throw" in the 95th minute there was nothing on. Milan Skriniar and Co. had protected their box with supreme ease all day long. When Marc Guehi flicked it on, there wasn't much on, either... for it appeared to be heading behind where everyone was stationed, just behind where Bellingham was standing.
And that's when England's #10 decided this game was his. In the 32nd second of the 94th minute of the game, Jude Bellingham decided to Jude Bellingham the life out of this Slovakian fairytale.
Having already charted out the potential trajectory of the ball, he'd taken a couple of steps back to create space between him and his marker, Denis Vavro. Those two feet of space was all he needed. With the ball flying off Guehi's head, Bellingham flung himself in the air, timing his bicycle kick to perfection.
JUDE BELLINGHAM BICYCLE KICK SAVES THE GAME FOR ENGLAND!!!!
IT HAD TO BE HIM!
1-1 IN THE 95TH MINUTE! UNREAL!!! pic.twitter.com/HgRvDIDo5V
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 30, 2024
The connection was so sweet that all Martin Dubravka in the Slovakian goal could do was stand and watch as it arrowed into the near bottom corner. 1-1, and it was no fluke.
This is what Bellingham has done to build up that aura, all season. Since joining Madrid, this is the sixth time he's scored a game-winning or game-equalising goal in second half stoppage time (4 for Madrid, 2 now for England).
Late brilliance of the kind that makes people go 'Oh My God, it's this guy again' is rare. Little wonder, then, that Gareth Southgate persisted with him, as he explained after the match: "We were thinking should we take him off, but you know he is capable of those sorts of moments." After all, it's just what he does, and all it takes is a second.
"Who else?"
Harry Kane would tie the bow on England's comeback with a goal in the first minute of extra time, but it was Bellingham's magic that kept them alive to take them there in the first place.
And for that, Jude Bellingham takes our Moment of the Day from day 15 of Euro 2024.
As he shouted at the Arena AufSchalke after scoring that wondergoal, nodding along as he did so... "who else?"