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Jude Bellingham saved blundering England from the ignominy of a second successive defeat with a last-gasp equalizer at Wembley.
The Real Madrid star almost scored from the last kick of the match as England, who lost to Brazil on Saturday, drew late against Belgium.
But England’s performance was marred by two costly errors from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defender Lewis Dunk, both of which led to Youri Tielemans firing Belgium ahead.
After the match, England savior Bellingham said: ‘I know how much rubbish we would have gotten if we had lost two games.
“You have to keep the perspective in mind going into these games, there are a lot of guys making their debuts, a lot of those guys I’ve played with before.
Jude Bellingham praised England’s newcomers while Kobbie Mainoo and Ivan Toney impressed
Kobbie Mainoo won Player of the Match for a brilliant performance in midfield for England
Gareth Southgate was full of praise for Mainoo and also praised Bellingham’s contribution
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“We created a lot of chances, I had one where I should have scored and a few other shots on target. I’m happy that I can make things right for the team, but we should actually win with all the chances we created.
‘But these two games will serve us well on the way to the European Championship.
“I know everyone will be negative about it, but you have to take these games as they are and use the positives and learn from the negatives.”
Bellingham praised the debutants, including Mainoo. “I’m sure the manager is happy with the players you saw because they came in and were brilliant,” he said.
‘So yes, over the two games I am of course happy with my teammates. I’m never happy with losses and draws, but we have to be happy with how some of them played.
‘We trust everyone who comes into the team. They are all in the selection for a reason, because they are good players, so we trust everyone who comes in.’
Speaking about Bellingham’s contribution, England boss Gareth Southgate said: ‘Jude is the headline tonight, that competitive spirit, the desire not to lose and ultimately win was a deception in getting the late goal.
‘But the whole team showed that and recovered from setbacks. I was very happy with what I saw tonight.’
Kobbie Mainoo, Ivan Toney – who scored England’s first – and Ezri Konsa all made their full England debuts on Tuesday.
Ivan Toney converted an early penalty and was a threat against Belgium throughout the match
Manchester United teenager Mainoo was particularly impressive and Southgate added: ‘Kobbie from a creative aspect gave us something different.
‘His qualities are there for all to see: he can stand under pressure, take on challenges and manipulate the ball in tight spaces. We are very happy with what he has done; you can’t believe how young he is.’
However, England’s evening came at a cost after Stones limped off after ten minutes with a groin injury, which could leave him a doubt for Manchester City’s title match against Arsenal on Sunday.
But Southgate is adamant there was no risk in starting Stones in both games, adding: ‘It was no risk in playing him in the two games. We are disappointed when he has a problem, but it is not an overload problem. I hate sending players to their club when they are not fully fit.’
On his debut, Toney said: ‘Very special to get on the scoresheet. We would have been a bit disappointed if we had lost the game, but luckily Jude got the goal and I thought we deserved something.”