England coach Thomas Tuchel hailed Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid star scored one goal and made another in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup win over Panama, describing the number 10 as being "in a sweet spot".
Bellingham stabbed in just after the hour mark, breaking the deadlock in an awkward game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It was his second goal of the tournament, and he then turned provider, crossing for Harry Kane to head home as England claimed the victory that allows them to advance to the last 32 as Group L winners.
"He is just in a sweet spot after his injury, he is just happy to play, and he feels free and he can just hopefully now also play with that intensity in a short period of time," Tuchel said of the midfielder who turns 23 on Monday.
It is not so long ago that Bellingham's place in Tuchel's squad appeared in doubt, and he featured in just two of England's eight matches between September and March.
Bellingham stabbed in just after the hour mark, breaking the deadlock in an awkward game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It was his second goal of the tournament, and he then turned provider, crossing for Harry Kane to head home as England claimed the victory that allows them to advance to the last 32 as Group L winners.
"He is just in a sweet spot after his injury, he is just happy to play, and he feels free and he can just hopefully now also play with that intensity in a short period of time," Tuchel said of the midfielder who turns 23 on Monday.
It is not so long ago that Bellingham's place in Tuchel's squad appeared in doubt, and he featured in just two of England's eight matches between September and March.
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