So, this is what happens when Gareth Southgate plays Jude Bellingham as a pure No 10. Real Madrid have discovered that it is a pretty good idea to have him in a high position, their new darling slicing through La Liga defences since his big-money transfer from Borussia Dortmund, scoring in every game. Here, it was Scotland’s turn to suffer.
England were excellent in the first half, Bellingham involved in Phil Foden’s deft opener and scoring the second himself. There is something irresistible about his fusion of twinkle-toed skill and driving power; his desire to be direct and hurt opponents.
There will be plenty of discussion about Maguire. It had to be him. It had to be a ponderous clump from the player that is a long way from Manchester United’s favoured lineup but who can still call himself a Southgate first-choice. For how much longer, given the positive steps that Marc Guéhi has taken in this international break and John Stones’s status as the undisputed central defensive linchpin? Everybody had the same thought here. What if Maguire makes a mistake in a knockout tie at next summer’s Euros?
Bellingham is an altogether happier subject and, with 82 minutes on the clock, he went yet again, spinning in a tight circle to lose one blue shirt before surging away from another. Scotland just wanted him to stop but he was remorseless. The weight on the pass slipped through for Harry Kane was perfect. It was one touch and finish from the captain. Game over.
Southgate knew that he needed a more convincing performance than in Saturday’s 1-1 qualification draw against Ukraine in Poland – and especially because it was Scotland, a fixture that has so often been a reference point for him. He got it, the switch to 4-2-3-1 working, Bellingham supported by Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips; Foden and Marcus Rashford menacing off the wings.
It was about playing a hostile occasion, as well as the game. Both anthems had been booed, one more lustily than the other, which was entirely in keeping with things. It also felt like a bad idea to attempt a moment of silence for the late Scotland manager, Craig Brown, and the victims of the natural disasters in Morocco and Libya. Was it respected? No.
England hogged possession and it was what they did with it that delighted Southgate, some of their one-touch stuff extremely easy on the eye. Scotland struggled to put pressure on the ball and, with Steve Clarke wanting his backline to squeeze high, England could see big spaces into which to play their runners.
Southgate used Foden on the right, albeit with the licence to drift. The Manchester City player had lifted wastefully high on 19 minutes – was Rashford offside in the buildup? – but he grew into the game, all swerves and instant control.
