Jude Bellingham has taken the lead in England’s run to the World Cup semi-final. He scored twice against Mexico, finished with a 9.2 rating and played 100 minutes in the quarter-final, then carried a season return of six goals in six appearances into the last four.
Bellingham’s form is the main story
The quarter-final was the clearest version of him in this tournament so far. Bellingham was central to England's extra-time win, and the 9.2 rating reflects more than just the goals. He stayed on for the full 100 minutes, which tells you how much of the game ran through him.
His season numbers back up the idea that this is not a one-off burst. Six goals in six appearances across all competitions is a clean return, and the 8.05 rating attached to that run is strong enough on its own. Bellingham is arriving at the right time, and England need exactly that.
England and Argentina arrive in good shape
The semi-final has the weight you would expect. England have won four of their last five World Cup matches, including the quarter-final against Mexico and a 4-2 win over Croatia. Argentina have won all five of their recent World Cup matches in the data set, with wins over Egypt and Algeria among them.
So this is not just a reputation game. The meeting has been played out five times before at the tournament, and both sides arrive with form behind them. But the sharper edge belongs to Bellingham, and that is what makes England’s route into the semi-final look so dangerous for Argentina.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →