England’s emphatic victory over Croatia was the kind of performance that was always going to travel far beyond the stadium, and it certainly caught the attention of their rivals.
Across France, Germany, Argentina and elsewhere, the reaction carried a similar theme: has Thomas Tuchel finally stirred one of football’s sleeping giants?
The Three Lions had been made to work for it after twice surrendering their lead during a frantic first half. But after the interval, they responded with authority, producing a polished and powerful display that forced the tournament’s other major contenders to take notice.
In Spain, Marca captured the mood with a headline that read: “Finally, Bellingham!”
The Madrid-based outlet added that “this was the Bellingham England was waiting for,” noting that the midfielder had rewarded Tuchel’s continued belief in him.
Praise also arrived from Germany, where admiration for English football is not always handed out freely. On this occasion, though, the performance was difficult to ignore.
Marca in Spain wrote: “Finally Bellingham has arrived for England”
Even the Germans praised the England performance and called it an “explosion”, with one headline reading: “That was the best game of the World Cup”
Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon celebrate
BILD described England’s win over Croatia as ‘the best match of the World Cup’.
It was a sentiment echoed even in Argentina, where Ole declared: ‘England are showing glimpses of being contenders.’
Both teams put on a ‘total show’ and ‘fantastic’ match in which ‘Harry Kane shone brightest’.
L’Equipe in France went even further in praising Tuchel’s side, calling the performance a ‘masterclass’, ‘pure entertainment’ and ‘a hell of a show’.
In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf simply described the win as ‘dazzling’, while Clarin in Argentina called it a ‘thrashing’.
Kane fired England ahead from the spot with a penalty re-taken for encroachment that he’d initially missed before Martin Baturina fired Croatia level.
Kane then headed in from a corner to re-take the lead before his side again let it slip on the brink of half-time when Petar Musa slotted home.
Jude Bellingham restored the advantage after a sweeping team move before Marcus Rashford made sure of the result on the counter late on.
England face Ghana next on Tuesday and will be full of confidence, with even their old enemies talking them up.
Tuchel required an inspirational half-time team talk to help drive England to their victory on Thursday night.
Harry Kane was given a high rating out of 10 by the infamously strict L’Equipe
England ‘showed they are contenders’ according to Mundial’s report of the game
‘I sat down with them,’ he explained. ‘I gave them quiet time for themselves. I told them to calm down. We just conceded a goal. Calm down, calm their nerves and (then) encourage them to do it our way.’
‘I told them that my perception of them and of the last 17 days will not change because of this result,’ Tuchel further explained when asked how he had inspired such rapid change by Daily Mail Sport.
‘I said that no matter what the result is, I want them to do it their way, our way. I want them to be brave, courageous, intense, on the front foot, and do it together, and, and just go for it, and, and try to take it, and be active.
‘I encouraged them,’ he said. ‘It was short, it was calm. If they say it helped then even better.
‘But that was the main message: to just encourage them and tell them that we trust them and there is nothing, nothing to fear. It was ‘we’re gonna go for the win’ and ‘be active’.’
