Jude Bellingham extended his arms in front of the jubilant away fans after scoring England’s second goal in the span of three minutes. 

This newly trademarked celebration, which the Brummie Galactico has been adopting since he joined Real Madrid, served as a tasty slap-down to a Scotland team that had been threatening to play above their level. 

Bellingham appeared to be telling the crowd to “sit down, shut up, and get back in your box” as he posed as Christ the Redeemer looking down on Rio. Then the bothersome neighbors were quieted.  Real spent a nine-figure transfer fee for the Englishman, in part because he is aware of just how talented he is. Bellingham led a brazen England performance against a Scotland team who had thought they had a good chance of defeating the auld enemy and had a perfect qualifying record for the Euros. Bellingham has the right amount of arrogance. Harry Maguire had given Scotland new life, first by showing up at the break and then by scoring an own goal to the joy of the home crowd who had been relentlessly baiting him. However, Bellingham, who also contributed to Phil Foden’s first goal, then gave Harry Kane a stunning assist to put an end to the Scots with England’s third goal. Southgate turned to the crowd after scoring, giving it a full double fist-pump. No matter how much they attempt to portray this event as nice, it still matters. And the English are just as concerned about it as the Tartan Army is. On the verge of qualifying for the Euros next summer, the Scots were in a state of uncharacteristic excitement, and it had been party time in Glasgow. The Proclaimers were threatening to embark on one long walk after another, there were guys in skirts everywhere you turned, and the huge screens were announcing “150 years of glory,” which we must have missed south of the border. God Help The King received a harsh rebuke, the bagpipes played an awful tune, a minute of silence for late Scotland manager Craig Brown was tragically destroyed, and then the game began. Although Southgate made six changes to his starting lineup from the tedious draw against Ukraine, the England team still had a lot of experience. Like in Poland on Saturday, England started the game by controlling the ball and without producing much. Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips were enjoying the midfield hound work, but it took 25 minutes of probing before the visitors managed a decent opportunity. Kyle Walker, a Manchester City defender, came within inches of scoring England’s second goal in as many games after going 76 without one thanks to a feed from Marcus Rashford to Bellingham, whose overhit cross found Walker to drive wide of the far post. However, England took the lead with a goal that oozed quality in the 32nd minute. The goal began with a throw-in from left-back Kieran Trippier, and nine passes later—including a stunning over-the-shoulder pass from Rashford to Bellingham—Walker released Foden, who scored. Although there was much discussion before the game regarding Foden’s best position and he has rarely played to his best ability while wearing an England jersey, the City player is always a goal threat, no matter where he plays. Before Foden’s shot had found the back of the net, Bellingham dashed out to mock the Scottish supporters.  The vast majority of Hampden was in a wonderful silence at that moment, and two minutes later it was even quieter. It was yet another skillful passing movement from Southgate’s team, but after a Foden center from the left and a Bellingham backheel, the most crucial ball was the puzzling one that Scotland captain Andy Robertson delivered to Bellingham inside his own area.Rice laughed at his teammate’s bravery as the Real Madrid player happily grabbed it, slid past Angus Gunn, and stood for a while with his arms outstretched. Before halftime, Scotland joined in for a bit, but besides a few goalmouth scuffles, the English were not particularly troubled. Walker attacked Ryan Porteous during some heated afters, and Phillips was arrested for a tough challenge. At halftime, Maguire took over for Marc Guehi, and the Scottish supporters jeered ironically every time the former Manchester United captain touched the ball. Billy Gilmour’s shot just missed Aaron Ramsdale’s bar, but Bellingham was still strutting his stuff and found Harry Kane with a magnificent aerial back-heeled pass. Midway through the second half, however, everything changed when Maguire stretched out a boot to stop Lyndon Dykes, a substitute, from receiving a low cross from the right, and diverted the ball beyond Ramsdale. The Hampden roar returned like a mocking thunderstorm, and the Scots were cock-a-hoop, especially when they learned who had accidentally scored the goals. When Robertson whipped in a cross, John McGinn narrowly missed the target at the near post, and England briefly shook. To replace Foden and Rashford, Southgate brought in Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. And shortly after receiving his second cap, the Palace wideman was put through on goal, but Gunn made a smothering stop. Bellingham launched a gliding dribble that required Gunn to make yet another save. Bellingham then gave Ryan Christie a wild twist as a toast and snuck a pass-through for Kane to drive past Gunn. By benching his finest player, Southgate showed some clemency, but Hampden was quickly emptying and all the gloating was in English.