'Hey Jude' rings out as Bellingham leads England past Panama

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: A sea of red-and-white-clad England supporters serenaded Jude Bellingham with The Beatles' "Hey Jude" after Saturday's (Jun 27) 2-0 win over Panama, a fitting soundtrack for the player who has become a focal point of England's World Cup campaign.

Bellingham delivered the breakthrough England desperately needed on Saturday, scoring once and setting up Harry Kane in the victory that secured top spot in Group L and a potentially smoother path through the tournament's knockout rounds.

After a laboured first hour in which England dominated possession but created little, Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, forcing home Bukayo Saka's corner from close range despite being tightly marked.

Five minutes later he clipped in a cross for Kane, who rose above his marker to head home for an historic 11th World Cup goal for England.

The joyous post-game moments were a stark contrast to his difficult season at Real Madrid marked by injury issues and inconsistency.

He has also experienced a complicated relationship with England supporters, drawing criticism from some sections of social media. 

The 22-year-old addressed the criticism after England's 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening match, in which he also scored, saying: "Personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us try to win games."

On Saturday, England spent an increasingly tense hour probing for an opening and finding little reward. 

Panama's stubborn resistance was beginning to test the patience of supporters and raise uncomfortable questions about England's cutting edge before Bellingham provided the answer. 

"First job achieved," he said. "We came here to do it