This one is going to hurt for some while, especially for Tottenham striker Harry Kane because it was his penalty miss that proved to be costly in England getting knocked out of the World Cup to France on Saturday.
But whilst that moment will be replayed in Kane’s head again and again, including in the head of England fans, for the wrong reasons, there was one moment of pure class from 19-year-old Jude Bellingham straight after the Tottenham man’s penalty miss.
As Kane ballooned his guilt-edge chance well over the bar, he had the look of a man that had just seen a ghost, perhaps a ghost of the past because this was England shooting themselves in the foot from 12 yards again.
Kane lifted his shirt over his face, most of his teammates behind him couldn’t believe what they had just seen, the French were overjoyed, but Bellingham was the one switched on, as he saw his teammate in distress, rushed over to console him and urged him to get his focus again.
This isn’t a seasoned-veteran or a 30-something-old player doing this, but a teenager who is well beyond his years.
It was a touch of class, maturity and leadership from Bellingham himself, as you can see from the footage below.
BELLINGHAM IS A FUTURE ENGLAND CAPTAIN
This is just the start of the journey for Bellingham and one that will have many successful roads for the Borussia Dortmund player.
He dons the captain’s armband at club level and it won’t be too long before he is doing the same with England.
Kane has that role yet and will probably hold it for a few years.
But it wouldn’t be a surprise when the 29-year-old decides to hand over the baton that Bellingham is the one called forward because, for the next 10 years, he is set to be a mainstay for his nation.
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