England’s 2026 World Cup campaign has largely revolved around Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who have dominated headlines with their match-winning performances. However, former Three Lions defender Gary Pallister has highlighted Elliot Anderson as the team’s unsung hero, praising the Manchester City midfielder for his tireless contributions under Thomas Tuchel.

Both Kane and Bellingham have been instrumental in propelling England to the semi-finals, each netting six goals across six matches. Without their attacking brilliance, England’s hopes might have already ended. Instead, the team now prepares to face Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina in what promises to be a high-octane semi-final clash.

England will again rely on their talismanic No.9 and No.10 for moments of inspiration, but for that creativity to flourish, someone must handle the gritty work in midfield — a role Anderson has embraced superbly. The young midfielder, recently valued at £116 million ($155m), has adapted seamlessly to his defensive duties, excelling at regaining possession and launching attacks.

Speaking to GOAL on behalf of NetBet Sport, Pallister said, “Probably Anderson. He’s got his move sorted at City. I was a bit disappointed he didn’t consider Manchester United, but I don’t think they were ever seriously in the mix. The amount of graft he’s put in, especially given the tough conditions — altitude, humidity, and heat — is remarkable. He’s not afraid of hard work. You look at the Mexico games and his ball recoveries — his work rate was outstanding.”

Pallister also commented on Anderson’s encounter with Erling Haaland during the tournament, noting, “It was interesting to see him go up against Haaland the other night. They’ll be teammates next season, and let’s just say he went down a bit easily when pushed by Mr Haaland. But overall, he’s had a really strong tournament.”

Despite his impressive performances, experts believe that Anderson still has areas to refine to become a more complete midfielder. Former England striker Gary Lineker discussed this on his ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast: “The one thing I’d say is that he sometimes jumps a little early. When you’ve got Bellingham and Declan Rice ahead of him, we can look slightly open in front of the back four. He’s brilliant, but that’s something to watch. Maybe it stood out more because we were playing Norway and not Argentina, France, or Spain.”

Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards added, “I actually think he’s more of an eight than a six. His technical ability and passing range are exceptional, and he’s got incredible energy — he wants to be involved in everything. He’s a fantastic player but needs more discipline. Against France, if Michael Olise is playing in that No.10 role, any lapse could be punished. If he can tidy up those small details, he can be anything he wants. Manchester City signing him makes perfect sense — he brings energy.”

Richards also noted the tactical challenge for Tuchel: “It’s tricky because Rice is more of a runner than a holding midfielder, Bellingham operates as an eight or ten, and Anderson is also an eight. That’s why some people are talking about Kobbie Mainoo, but Tuchel doesn’t seem to fancy him.”

As England prepare for their semi-final in Atlanta against Argentina, Anderson is expected to start alongside Rice once again. There’s speculation that the 23-year-old could be tasked with closely marking Messi, though containing the Argentine legend will require a collective effort. Even Bellingham and Kane will need to track back while continuing to deliver in attack, as England aim to book a final showdown with Spain on Sunday.