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Designated as the number 10 in England’s 1-4-2-3-1 system, his partnership with centre-forward Harry Kane stood out for FIFA Technical Study Group expert Jürgen Klinsmann. The 1990 FIFA World Cup™ winner knows all about playing up top, both in the lone striker role and a centre-forward pairing.
During his playing career, he built powerful partnerships with Rudi Völler and Teddy Sheringham, and in this video article, he analyses the synergy and relationship between Bellingham and Kane that is igniting England’s World Cup journey.
Counter-movements with Kane
A key component of how England operate in and around the opponent’s penalty area is the way Bellingham and Kane execute movements and counter-movements. England’s in-possession shape is a 1-4-2-3-1, with Jude Bellingham operating in the number 10 role, just behind striker Kane. However, in reality, the operating partnership between these two players is not as straightforward as that.
In clip 1 below, Klinsmann explains that, even when forward players are just walking in the game, making it look like they are not doing much, they are still actively engaging defenders and causing confusion.
“They make it look like they are not interested, but they are making the defenders work. When Harry Kane comes out, he’s in the number 10 space where Jude Bellingham should be. Then, they switch positions, and suddenly, when the cross comes in, Bellingham is in the scoring position for this goal, but this partnership is very special, and it comes more from a 1-4-4-2 formation instead of the 1-4-2-3-1 they want us to believe is their system.”
Framing the goal: Back post and front-post runs
Kane and Bellingham use movements and counter-movements to frame the goal (one runner to the front post and one runner to the back post), with one player instinctively making the opposite run to the other. This makes it very difficult for defenders to know who to track. These split-second decisions give the forwards marginal advantages over the defenders, and these tiny details can be the difference in one player getting to the ball before another.
Klinsmann uses clip 2 below to highlight these counter-movements and how they confuse and disrupt defenders. Bellingham makes the run from deep, losing his marker. Kane’s initial diagonal run cuts across the space Bellingham is approaching, and engages the centre-back on that far-post side. Kane quickly changes direction, running to the front post, dragging the centre-back with him. Crucially, this counter-movement from Kane opens the space for Bellingham to attack at the far post.
“This is a fantastic goal to show every young striker what to do and how to make runs into the penalty area, and how to partner up with your team-mates. One goes first, one goes second, and another player holds on the 18-yard line. This is a brilliant example of how to break teams down.”
Role reversals: Kane drops, Bellingham plays high
In clip 3, we see a different example of the counter-movements between the pair. This time, Harry Kane drops into midfield, replicating the behaviours of a number 10 while Bellingham assumes the striker’s role, making a forward run instinctively as soon as Kane is in possession of the ball and with space available in behind. For Klinsmann, these types of counter-movements irritate defenders.
Playing as a striker
After the quarter-final, Bellingham ranked in the top five players across the whole tournament for movements to offer in behind the opposition’s defence and in between the lines. It is this movement off the ball that creates space and opportunities, not just for Bellingham, but also for the players around him. In the game against Norway, Bellingham registered 24 offering movements to receive in behind the opposition’s defensive line and 34 offering movements to receive in between the lines.
In clip 4 below, England are attacking from a long goal kick and are breaking through on the left-hand side. Bellingham is already positioned as a number 9 and makes his run into the penalty area.
“His first touch is incredible, preparing him to go past the defender, and his finishing is even better. That is really something you take with you from the streets. That’s the instinct you have about how to control the ball with the vision that two or three defenders are going to make certain moves, so you can counter-move them and execute that with a coolness that is just outstanding,” Klinsmann explains.
Then, in clip 5, we see a brilliant example of Bellingham’s striker instinct when loitering in the penalty area. At first, he looks like he is not interested, but as soon as the ball is struck at goal, Bellingham reacts instinctively and is first to the ball to score.
Playing as a second striker
When England did not have the ball, they often defended in a 1-4-4-2 mid-block, with Kane and Bellingham acting as the front two. This meant that when they transitioned to attack from this shape, they could operate as a centre-forward pairing.
Against Mexico, Bellingham’s second goal came directly from a transition to attack from a 1-4-4-2 mid-block, with the two players combining in a centre-forward pairing during the sequence of play leading to the goal.
“Immediately, when they win the ball back, they play vertically into the penalty area, finding Bellingham who plays a one-two with Kane before finishing. It’s a wonderful example of how to build a partnership up front and how to be decisive in a split second while playing vertically. It’s fantastic to watch.”
KLINSMANN’S ASSESSMENT
Bellingham is a player who gives you the feeling, as a coach or as a fan, that he does things on the pitch that remind you of street football. He is a very instinctive player. He knows how to anticipate moments, and he reads the game. He builds a partnership with Kane in the national team, and they work off each other. He has the talent and can execute it with the best technique and at speed, which makes him very special in the world of football.
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