Jude Bellingham hailed Harry Kane as “the greatest player to ever wear this shirt for England” after the striker marked his 125th international appearance with two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic.
England’s victory in the fourth round of the UEFA Nations League A also extended their run of clean sheets, although Bellingham admitted the performance was not perfect following their 7-0 win in the previous match.
“It’s exactly what we needed at home,” Bellingham told ITV Sport. “I know it’s often tricky when away teams come here to play because they sit deep and try to disrupt our rhythm.
“But if you look at the final score, three goals and a clean sheet, it’s hard to be unhappy with that. However, it clearly wasn’t entirely the ideal match for us, as we had just come off a 7-0 victory, and everyone was eager for more goals.
“Regardless, we got the job done and showed great professionalism.”
Kane’s contribution was central to the result, and Bellingham paid tribute to both his ability and his influence within the England squad.
“All the praise that can be said has already been said,” he said. “I can only speak from my own perspective, and first and foremost, he is an incredible person.
“As a captain and as a man, he looks after everyone in the team. When there’s anything that needs to be sorted off the pitch, he’s always the one who steps up and takes responsibility.
“On the pitch, all the praise in the world is not enough to describe him. He is the greatest player to ever wear this shirt for England, and it’s an honour to play alongside him.”
Bellingham believes Kane is performing at the highest level of his career, describing his range of qualities as arguably unmatched anywhere in the world.
“I think so, I have to say,” he said when asked whether Kane was better than ever. “Looking around the world, the level he’s currently showing is arguably unmatched.
“He scores goals as a matter of course, and at the same time, he can drop deep, deliver passes that cut through defences or switch play to the flanks, contributing in all areas of the pitch.
“Not only that, but he also actively tracks back and makes tackles – he can do it all. He’s only going to get better, and we have to rely on his ability for as long as possible.”
The match was also Bellingham’s 60th appearance for England. He came close to marking the occasion with an audacious back-heel chip after receiving a pass from Morgan Rogers.
“Morgan Rogers played a great ball, and I was just thinking of trying something inspired,” he said. “When you feel good and confident, you naturally want to try different things. It didn’t quite go in, but that’s okay.”
Bellingham, who has been named England Player of the Year, said he was enjoying his football after learning from a difficult previous season.
“I went through some difficult times last season, but I learned more about myself and discovered ways to make the game easier, especially when playing for England,” he said. “I’ve been working hard to get better and better, and I hope I can continue to do so.”
