England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham can become one of the world's greatest ever players, according to Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane. The 23-year-old scored one goal and set up three more as England inflicted Croatia's biggest-ever defeat in a 7-0 hammering in front of a reduced crowd in Rijeka in the Nations League. Bellingham was England's standout player at the World Cup and has become the focal point of Thomas Tuchel's side, registering 13 goal involvements in his last 11 games since the start of the tournament.
Keane heaped praise on Bellingham after the win over Croatia and said it was a complete performance from a player who, he says, has become a "huge leader for England". "I think there's still a lot more to come from [Bellingham]," Keane said on ITV. "Bellingham can go on to become one of the greatest players of all time.
"His attitude for England recently...I have been praising him for being fantastic in possession, but what he is doing out of possession. That lifts all these players. "If you have a player who is that good in your team, who is amazing in possession and is playing for Real Madrid and doing brilliant things, but his work rate off the ball, that will inspire all the other players." Keane said England made Croatia, who are ranked 14th in the world, look like a "Gibraltar-type of team".
On England's performance, Keane added: "Everything you would want. A complete performance." Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett at the Stadion HNK Rijeka: "England sank Croatia without a trace on the Adriatic coast, with the Good Ship Tuchel now full steam ahead after the World Cup supporter mutiny. "No one could have predicted a performance of this utter dominance against the team ranked 14 in the world.
"England cut through a woeful Croatia midfield and defence at will, like a red hot knife carves through softened butter, and Tuchel's front men had a field day. "Two goals for Captain Kane with an assist to boot. Two goals for Saka, which will have been a timely confidence boost for the Arsenal man.
There was a goal and a hat-trick of assists for the irrepressible Jude Bellingham, alongside a goal and an assist for the equally magnificent Anthony Gordon. "Croatia were simply blown away, and England could have won by more. "When England are rampaging all over the pitch like this, wining back possession when they have no right to do so, passing forward at every opportunity and finishing ruthlessly, there is no better team in world football to watch.
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