Harry Kane’s double earned him the Man of the Match award, but Bellingham’s brilliant solo strike early in the second half was the turning point in a thrilling 4-2 opening game win over Croatia.
The Croats, who had become England’s bogey team, twice came back to equalise and shake the Three Lions before the break.
A fourth by Marcus Rashford ensured a winning start for Thomas Tuchel’s men after Croatia were once again threatening.
Even at the death, Kane had to get his body in the way of a Josko Gvardiol shot to deny their indefatigable opponents a consolation third goal.
It’s been a World Cup of surprises, but this game began with the same old England.
Yet again, the Three Lions were one of the favourites, but yet again they delivered a stutter instead of a roar.
It was Kane, who stuttered in his run-up for the early penalty and was lucky to get a second chance when keeper Dominik Livakovic moved too quickly.
It was a close call, the hesitation probably causing the keeper to inch off his line and save a tame effort.
But the referee ordered the kick to be retaken.
The pressure was now at bursting point. Kane’s last World Cup spot-kick was a costly miss against France in 2022.
He had converted his next 31, but this was the World Cup again.
Still, he kept cool and blasted it with added venom. Livakovic never saw it. England were one up.
The penalty was given after an uncharacteristic wild kick from Luka Modric, of all people, in his 199th game.
He just didn’t know Nona Madueke was there, but he clearly felled him.
It was the start of an unhappy match for the 41-year-old legend, who was subbed early after an ineffectual performance.
Kane started and finished the story of a game that entertained a packed crowd but would have given both managers nightmares.
England couldn’t keep the lead with Jordan Pickford perhaps unsighted for the first equaliser, a rocket from Martin Baturina.
Then Kane was left unmarked on the edge of the box to run in and head home Declan Rice’s unerring corner.
But still Croatia found a way with another avoidable goal from distance by Peta Musa.
England were shellshocked and then on the receiving end from their coach in the dressing room.
They needed something. And it was Real Madrid’s Bellingham, still only 22, who answered the call.
Latching on to a through ball from the excellent Elliott Anderson, the midfielder made a powerful run, shrugging off two defenders and finding the far corner.
If the strike was not the purest, the accuracy was there and once again England’s biggest star delivered when his team needed it.
It was Bellingham at the pivotal moment of the game and sparked England’s best spell.
They could and should have had more, but the brave Livakovic somehow kept his team in it.
Just as it looked as if Croatia had weathered the storm and seemed capable of levelling yet again, Bukayo Saka, on as a sub, found Rashford who made no mistake to seal the deal.
It was a massive relief for the Three Lions, who had been beaten by Croatia in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup, the Euros and in the Nations League.
There was more life about them than under Gareth Southgate, the biggest difference coming with the substitutions.
Instead of parking the bus, Tuchel sent on attacking players and it paid off.
They don’t look like world beaters, but they are up and running.
For Croatia, it was a sad day with Modric finally showing his age. However, in Martin Baturin, they may have already found his successor.
And if one old timer is fading away, Ivan Perisic – just four years Modric’s junior – is still a star performer. - FMT
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