Talking Sport: England dreaming of a second star as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham give reason to believe

Maybe we have said it before. Maybe we have all been here too many times over the years. The hope builds, the expectations rise, and then the dream eventually comes crashing down.

But is it different this time? Only time will tell, of course.

England are now just three games away from potentially adding a second star to their shirt, and supporters are starting to believe something special could happen.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have not had everything their own way in this tournament. There was the thrilling 4-2 opening victory over Croatia, the frustrating stalemate against a determined Ghana team and then a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Panama to finish top of the group.

The knockout rounds have brought their own challenges, too. DR Congo pushed England all the way before they edged through 2-1, and then came the result that has really made people sit up and take notice.

As records show, winning in Mexico is difficult enough. Winning at the Azteca in a World Cup is another level entirely. England did exactly that.

The dramatic 3-2 victory over the hosts will go down as one of the country’s memorable World Cup wins and has suddenly got a nation daring to dream.

Of course, there is still a long way to go. Norway await in the quarter-finals and, as England know all too well, knockout football can change in an instant and break hearts.

But there seems to be a strong belief and confidence growing around this squad.

At the centre of it all, as they have been for several years now, are Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

Kane continues to write his name into English football folklore. The captain leads by example, delivers in the biggest moments and carries himself with the calmness of a player who knows exactly what is required on the grandest stage.

After all, he has been banging goals in at the elite level for well over a decade now.

Then there is Bellingham.

At just 23, he already looks like one of the world’s greatest players. He has the talent, the confidence and the personality to become the face of English football for the next decade.

Together, they are the heartbeat of this team. For young supporters watching at home, these are the players they are pretending to be in the garden, at the park and on school playgrounds.

A generation ago, it was David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

Now it is Kane and Bellingham. They are becoming heroes for the next generation of children who are falling in love with football and dreaming of one day pulling on an England shirt themselves.

That is what major tournaments do. They create memories. They inspire. They bring people together.

Suddenly, pubs and beer gardens are packed again. England shirts and merchandise are everywhere. Conversations in workplaces and schools are dominated by the World Cup.

The country is beginning to believe... perhaps that is the most dangerous thing of all. Because once England supporters start dreaming, it becomes impossible not to get swept away by it and get carried away. I think we’ve all been guilty of that in the past!

I don’t think I’ve spoken to many who have outrightly said England will win the World Cup. There are still huge obstacles to overcome, but for now, there is hope and a belief that maybe wasn’t there just a couple of months before the tournament got underway.

One more great performance against Norway and the dream will only grow bigger. Norway should not be underestimated in the slightest, though. Saturday will see two of the world’s best number nines go head-to-head in Kane and Erling Haaland - it’s a matchup for the ages. But rather than focusing on individual battles, it could be the side that does the fundamentals well and plays as a collective that comes out on top.

A second star no longer feels impossible for England, and that alone says everything about the path this team are on. Wherever you are watching the game this weekend – enjoy!