Jude Bellingham, the 21-year-old midfielder from Real Madrid, played a pivotal role in England’s 3-0 victory over Greece at OAKA on November 14. The midfielder hit the post with a header, forced an own goal from Greek goalkeeper Vlachodimos with a shot, and was the maestro in midfield throughout the match.

Bellingham reflected on England’s performance, stating that both the team’s execution and the result were due to their “perseverance” and defensive setup that allowed the creative players to express themselves confidently on the ball.

“A good defensive shape… character,” said Bellingham in an interview with ITV Sport when asked about the key factors behind the 3-0 victory. “The coach and his staff created a game plan that was perfect for this match.

With the ball, we tried things. Whether they worked or not, it’s a young team, we all play really well for our clubs, we’re all exciting players who want to get on the ball and be creative.

So, yes, we may lose the ball, but I think it was amazing that every time we tried something and lost the ball, we kept doing it. That was the most important thing in the end, persistence,” he added.