The one-word message Everton's James Garner sent to Jude Bellingham after England thriller
Everton midfielder James Garner kept his praise of England's Jude Bellingham short and sweet after the 3-2 win over Mexico.
Down every street across the nation, there is a growing sense that this England side under Thomas Tuchel will be the ones to finally bring football home again at the World Cup.
Like so many others, Garner will have been watching on into the early hours of Monday, as Mexico were forced to bow to the Three Lions on a memorable night at the Azteca.
Garner was handed his first senior England caps in the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan respectively, but the Everton star didn't make Tuchel's final 26-man World Cup squad.
The midfielder enjoyed a fabulous individual season for the Toffees last term, and the 25-year-old shouldn't feel any shame for missing out in what is by far England's strongest department in central midfield.
He will be hoping his England comrades go all the way this summer, and if they are to do so, then much is already owed to Bellingham's ability to produce big moments in big games once again.
James Garner applauds Jude Bellingham in 'win for the ages'
Like he has done so many times for England in the past, Bellingham rose to the occasion when his country needed him most in Mexico City.
The 23-year-old netted a quick-fire double inside two first-half minutes to put the Three Lions into a commanding 2-0 lead with 38 minutes on the clock.
Mexico were able to get one back before half-time, but in spite of Jarell Quansah's 54th-minute red card, a Harry Kane penalty ensured Raul Jimenez's spot kick was nothing more than a consolation.
Tuchel's side must now prepare for a quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami this Saturday, but in the hours after this historic victory for English football, celebrating and taking it all in is the most important thing.
Bellingham is certainly doing that, as he took to his Instagram account to share an emotional and passionate message to England fans everywhere.
"A win for the ages at the Azteca," Bellingham said. "This team! These fans!
"Let your boss know you won’t be making it in tomorrow."
A whole host of Premier League stars reacted to Bellingham's post, including Garner, who left both a like and simple one-word reply in the comments.
"Top," with a clapping hands emoji is all the Toffees midfielder had to say about the Real Madrid man, but he wasn't the only Everton player reacting.
Indeed, Jarrad Branthwaite and Dwight McNeil liked the post as well.
Tuchel is justifying leaving Garner out of England's squad
Many Evertonians were understandably disappointed to see Garner miss out on a place in England's World Cup team after the season he'd just had.
In so many other England teams of past tournaments, his two goals and seven Premier League assists paired with uber-consistent performances orchestrating Everton's engine room would've seen him on the plane.
However, Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice have largely been superb as Tuchel's central midfield pairing of choice so far, and it would be unfair on either of those two to say that Garner would've come in and done a better job.
Against Mexico, no player on the pitch made more defensive contributions than Anderson's eight, whilst he also made five tackles, won five of his six ground duels and both of his aerial duels respectively, as per FotMob.
However, Garner has now broken into England and Tuchel's thinking, and with the German contracted at Wembley Stadium until the summer of 2028, the Everton star's prospects for further Three Lions caps looks very bright.
Should he continue to perform at the level he did for Everton in 2025-26 over the next two seasons, then Garner will surely have to be included in England's team for the 2028 Euros in the UK and Ireland.