Even as Gareth Southgate’s England squad prepared to travel to Germany next summer, one notion persisted: if Jude Bellingham is fit, they could win the European Championship.

Previously, England would show out to major events with jingoistic tub-thumping but little to back up our country’s false assertions.

No, not just now. Not when they have access to the world’s finest player—a 20-year-old superstar who runs the Bernabeu for Real Madrid and has the ability to turn around high-level football contests on his own.

England captain Harry Kane scored two goals and Marcus Rashford scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory. This was England’s second victory over the defending European champions this qualifying season.

However, when Italy scored the opening goal and took the lead through Gianluca Scamacca, Bellingham grabbed the game by the horns and ensured England won their seventh game in a row and eighth game without losing since the World Cup.

With a huge hit, a seductive dummy, and a brilliant pass, Bellingham set up Rashford’s goal.

The young, towering British player then turned up the heat. He frequently ran past a group of powerful Italian midfielders and defenders, leaving them dazed.

He’s a fantastic player. You wondered if you had ever seen an England football player who was so good all the time as you saw him at Hampden Park last month.

To make room for Bellingham on the center-forward channel, Southgate had Kane drop deep and ping passes from deep. It was a wise approach that occasionally perplexed the Italians.

To be honest, these Euros qualifying groups no longer represent much of a threat. England could even make the finals with Steve McClaren in charge.

But this season has been fantastic, especially after they defeated Italy twice. Southgate has a solid reason to remain on after the World Cup.

That decision had to be influenced by Bellingham’s rising talent; at times in Qatar, he appeared to be on the verge of greatness.

After all the hoopla surrounding Jordan Henderson’s booing during Friday’s curiously manufactured and shortly forgotten friendly versus Australia, at least we had a real game here.

England qualified for Euro 2024 by defeating Italy.

It was quiet, unlike the last time Italy played here in the 2021 Euros Final. It was wonderful that no one on Wembley Way had a lit fireworks gadget jammed up their backside.

England had a thrilling first few minutes of the game. Marcus Rashford nearly scored a long-range free kick, and Kyle Walker looked dangerous on the right wing.

As a result, they were taken aback when Italy scored the first goal 15 minutes in.

Jude Bellingham, who hosted the evening, received a standing ovation.

Scamacca slammed it into the roof of the net from close range after Giovanni Di Lorenzo sent a fast cross to the far post that Davide Frattesi missed.

England’s defense was nearly motionless, and they played horribly for the following ten minutes or so.

Kane suddenly felt compelled to play holding middle, where he missed a few tackles as Italy appeared poised to double their lead. Scamacca hit the goal after a rapid rat-a-tat pass, but it was just wide.

The atmosphere was mournful. It seemed inconceivable that 90,000 people out for the night could be so peaceful.

Then England’s two strongest players—their star exiles—joined forces to break down the Italian defense.

Bellingham raced too quickly and collided with Di Lorenzo, who caught him with a sliding block. Kane escaped with a deft pass.

With the victory, England clinched the group.

VAR took far too long to check such a clear and obvious foul, but Kane was unfazed and fired his signature shot into the corner, with Gianluigi Donnarumma pushing himself the other way.

Kane’s goal was England’s sixth in seven games since missing a penalty at the World Cup.

Bellingham began enthusiastically cheering the crowd to get them enthused.

When Italy previously visited, it was all about the hooligans. It was the library section in this situation.

Donnarumma saved Rashford’s angled shot, but in first-half extra time, Tottenham left-back Destiny Udogie hit John Stones, and Pickford made a wonderful save to keep the game alive.

However, after the break, Udogie should have been awarded a penalty kick for body-checking Phil Foden, but referee Clement Turpin missed it.

Bellingham was beginning to make a significant impact. With a quick run, he won a free kick and set up England’s second goal.

The Birmingham player won a hard tackle on Nicola Barrella right outside the England box, then received Foden’s pass and dummied an opponent in the middle of the field before releasing Rashford.

The United player surged at the Italian defense, cut inside, and fired a strong shot at Donnarumma.

The goal was so apparent that it briefly roused up this lethargic crowd. Bellingham was now completely immersed in it. He did a drag-back and a back-heeled pass for Kane near the corner flag that looked like he studied matadors in Spain.

The English scored their third goal following a hopeful punt by Walker, a weak shot by Alessandro Bastoni, and a thud by Kane.