Jude Bellingham stands out as England reach the knockouts

Thomas Tuchel got the result he wanted, but the player who looked most ready for the next round was Jude Bellingham. England beat Panama 2-0 to top Group L with 7 points from 9 possible, and Bellingham scored in the 62nd minute before setting up Harry Kane's second goal three minutes later. Tuchel then took him off after 71 minutes to preserve him for the round of 32.

Bellingham was the clear standout

Gary Neville put it bluntly: "Absolutely, Bellingham is England's best player. He's the one player who looks like he's in form, he's the one player who looks like he's fresh. He's sharp, he's lively, he's played at the level you would expect."

The performance matched the praise. Bellingham was England's highest-rated player against Panama with a 9.3, and he also won 11 duels. He completed 43 passes, completed 3 dribbles and handled both sides of the job, driving England forward while still producing the decisive end product.

Kyle Walker made the broader point after the game, saying England need players like Bellingham and Kane firing on all cylinders. He also said Bellingham was probably the best player against Panama and drove them forward in the second half.

Tuchel still needs more around him

The case for Bellingham is strong, but it does not solve England's wider issue. Tuchel's side have already shown they can control games without always cutting through deep blocks, and the numbers against Ghana and Panama while the score was level were stark, 996 passes and only 6 shots on target before Bellingham's goal.

That is why Bellingham's form matters going into the knockouts. He has been the one England player who looks fresh, sharp and consistently dangerous. Kyle Walker also said others need to step up, with Bukayo Saka expected to add another layer when he gets up to speed.

Tuchel's own line was simple enough: "The tournament starts again now." England have the result, and they have their most influential player in form. The next task is making sure the rest of the attack can match him against Panama vs England and beyond.