England 2-2 Belgium: Late Bellingham strike snatches draw for Three Lions
Jude Bellingham scored in stoppage time to give England a 2-2 Wembley draw with Belgium on Tuesday, after Youri Tielemans' double threatened a smash and grab victory in an entertaining friendly.
Tielemans put the visitors ahead after 11 minutes, and Ivan Toney equalised with a penalty shortly after, before Tielemans headed Belgium ahead 2-1 at halftime.
It was harsh on England, who looked completely different from the team that lost to Brazil on Saturday, and they deserved their last-gasp equaliser.
"I knew the rubbish we would've got if we had lost two games on the bounce," Bellingham said.
"We should be winning with all the chances we've made but these are two games that will stand us in good stead. I know people will be negative but we have to take the positives."
"I'm sure the manager will be happy with how we played. You're never happy with a loss or a draw but we have to be happy with how we played."
The match between third-ranked England and their fourth-ranked opponents had a completely different feel than Saturday's lackluster affair, in which England barely mustered a shot against Brazil, and the tone was set after 20 seconds when Toney fired over from a Jarrod Bowen cross.
Belgium, wearing a bizarre kit of light blue shirts and brown shorts against England's charcoal grey, took the lead when Jordan Pickford's mishit clearance went straight to Amadou Onana, who then passed it to Tielemans, who stroked it into the empty net.
England responded with a penalty after Jan Vertonghen brought down Toney, and the Brentford striker scored his first goal with his trademark two stride approach.
With his rivals as backup to the injured Harry Kane failing to make a strong case, it was a watershed moment for Toney and his chances of making the Euros squad.
Bowen thought he had made his case when he nodded in from close range following a 26th-minute corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
England, on the other hand, played with an energy and vibrancy that was sorely lacking on Saturday, as Bowen and Bellingham both shot over from good positions.
However, it was another error by centre back Lewis Dunk, who was at fault for Brazil's winner, that allowed Belgium to score again. Romelu Lukaku took advantage by clipping in a sumptuous cross with the outside of his foot, which an unmarked Tielemans met with a diving header after 36 minutes.
England continued to create chances in the second half, with Toney, Bellingham, and Foden all coming close, and the incredible 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo making an irresistible case for a Euros spot.
Belgium defended well, but appeared to have done enough until the hosts launched a final attack down the left, with substitute James Maddison whipping in a low cross that the hugely impressive Bellingham coolly slotted in.
It made English fans happy, but it also extended Belgium's unbeaten streak to 12 games under coach Domenico Tedesco.
SportsLigue