Let’s be honest. Most of us had England pegged for a quarterfinal exit at this World Cup. It’s basically tradition at this point. They get to the last eight, put up a decent fight, and then find a heartbreaking way to go home. That’s the England way. Or at least it was.
This time, they’re in the semifinals for the first time at a World Cup outside Europe. And along the way, they’ve shattered a bunch of assumptions we all walked in with. Let’s run through them.
The Harry Kane Reliance Thing Was Way Off
Six weeks ago, the big question was whether England could function without Harry Kane carrying the entire offense. Now he’s got six goals and counting. But here’s the twist: England has also proven they’re not just Kane FC. Jude Bellingham has six goals from midfield. That’s not a typo. Two genuine global superstars who actually seem to enjoy playing together. England rarely has one of those. Having two changes the whole dynamic.
Jude Bellingham Is Even Better Than We Thought
Nobody doubted Bellingham was talented. But six goals at a World Cup from midfield? That’s absurd. He’s also handled the media stuff better than anyone expected, giving thoughtful interviews while making it clear why he usually avoids the circus. After the Norway win, he and Thomas Tuchel had what the press tried to spin as a clash. It wasn’t. It was two competitive people saying the same thing about mentality and togetherness. The media just can’t handle honest emotion without trying to manufacture drama.
This Team Has a Different Guts Than Previous England Sides
The real tell was the Azteca game. That heat and pressure would have swallowed up lesser England teams. It felt like Croatia 2018 all over again, or Italy 2021. That sickening feeling of control slipping away. But this time, subs came on and changed the game. England has now come from behind to win two knockout matches at this tournament. Before this month, they hadn’t won a World Cup knockout game from behind since 1990. The 1966 final was the last time they won a knockout game after conceding first. That’s not England. That’s something new.
Djed Spence Was a Genius Pick
When Tuchel named Djed Spence in the final 26, eyebrows shot up everywhere. A stop-start season with a terrible Spurs team. A broken jaw that required a protective plastic beard for the whole tournament. It looked like a desperation move. Instead, he’s been a revelation. His pace and versatility have been huge. Tuchel keeps yelling at him to get forward more, and it’s starting to work. And somehow, he’s not even the best Spurs fullback at this World Cup. Pedro Porro has turned into prime Cafu.
Dan Burn, Cult Hero
What was the point of bringing Dan Burn? He’s not starting. He’s a 6-foot-7 left-footed center-back who mostly plays defense. Turns out that was exactly the point. When England needs to close out a game, Burn comes on and just heads everything away. He cleared a Raul Jimenez overhead kick from inside his own box all the way past midfield. That’s insane. When he got ready to come on against Norway, Erling Haaland essentially gave up. Burn just laughs and puts his head on everything.
Anthony Gordon Got Better as the Tournament Got Bigger
We were waiting to be convinced on Gordon. He was a question mark. But his best two England games came at the Azteca and in Miami. That’s the kind of sign you want from a player. And even when he’s not scoring, he’s making the pitch as wide as possible. That creates space for Kane and Bellingham to operate. That’s why Tuchel picked him over Cole Palmer or Phil Foden. It wasn’t about individual talent. It was about what the team needed.
Jordan Pickford Has Looked Shaky for the First Time
For a decade, Pickford never let England down. That was basically a law of physics. But this tournament, behind a wobbly defense, he’s looked jittery. He was at fault for the opening goal in two of three knockout games. He also threw in an all-timer against Mexico, including a Gordon Banks-level save on Jimenez. But against Norway, he was wobbly again. The conversation about England’s goalkeeper is finally open. Maybe not for this tournament. But after this? It’s real.
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