Last Wednesday, Jude Bellingham was awarded the title of England‘s men’s Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. However, less than 48 hours later, he was excluded from the national squad.
England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, cited Bellingham’s limited playing time at Real Madrid following his shoulder surgery over the summer. At just 22 years old, Bellingham has only made one start in four outings this season and has yet to play a full 90 minutes. However, probing deeper into this explanation reveals a more intricate scenario.
Tuchel has consistently voiced his concern about the limited preparation time before next year’s FIFA World Cup, emphasizing the importance of frequently bringing key players together. He also referred to last month’s training camp as his most successful yet, believing it was instrumental in the decisive 5-0 victory over Serbia during World Cup qualifying.
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Upon announcing the squad for October, Tuchel retained nearly all the players from the previous camp, swapping the injured Noni Madueke for his Arsenal teammate, Bukayo Saka, while including Jarell Quansah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek from the onset after integrating them last month. Ironically, Saka has also struggled to complete 90 minutes for Arsenal since the season’s opening match.
“Team spirit is crucial in the end,” Tuchel commented last week. “We aspire to compete in the tournament, but first, we must qualify.”
“We aim to cultivate something remarkable, and I’m convinced the fans can sense a team willing to play for one another, ready to give their all.”
“That was clearly evident in our performance against Serbia, and now it’s up to us to sustain that momentum. We made a straightforward choice to maintain the same player group.”
However, this “straightforward” decision led to the omission of England’s best player from the past year, raising the question: Is there more at play here?
Exploring Alternatives
When asked if England could clinch the World Cup without Bellingham, Tuchel reframed the conversation.
“Do I believe we are stronger with Jude? Yes,” he affirmed. “Is he among the world’s elite midfielders? Absolutely. But I reiterated last time he was sidelined: what would we do if Jude were injured right before the World Cup? Do we simply withdraw? Do we not go?”
“This is a team sport. Every player has a specific role, and injuries can occur right before a tournament, necessitating solutions. Relying solely on one player is never a sustainable strategy in football.”
Bellingham is an exceptionally talented player, making his absence from England’s starting lineup at the World Cup seem improbable. Interestingly, England has won 26 of the 42 matches with Bellingham in the lineup, but their record improves to 13 wins, 6 draws, and just one loss when he’s not there.
His unique ability to influence a match is unparalleled within the England squad, and few players globally possess his match-winning qualities. Nevertheless, he needs to consistently perform at a high level, particularly since Tuchel seems committed to weighing contributions in the England kit just as heavily as those in club football. Taking Tuchel’s argument at face value, he is indeed correct that England ought to consider alternatives should Bellingham face injury.
Tuchel has favored a 4-2-3-1 system, and Morgan Rogers excelled in the No. 10 role against Serbia. His sharp intelligence on the ball and tireless effort off it make him a strong candidate to continue in this role when Wales visits Wembley for a friendly on Thursday. Morgan Gibbs-White is another potential option, as is Loftus-Cheek, yet it’s notable that Tuchel’s rationale for Bellingham’s absence also extended to the omission of Phil Foden. Throughout his tenure under former coach Gareth Southgate, Foden often played out wide to accommodate Bellingham, while only last month did Pep Guardiola, Foden’s manager at Manchester City, reiterate a widely accepted belief that Foden excels best in a central position.
Choosing not to include Foden is particularly perplexing, especially with the absence of Cole Palmer due to injury. The Chelsea playmaker is sidelined with a groin injury, a setback that may hinder his burgeoning case for a prominent role next summer after his impactful appearance in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, which marked Southgate’s final game in charge.
Sources have indicated that Tuchel is also contemplating a formation shift, potentially utilizing Bellingham alongside Harry Kane in a split striker role with a 4-4-2 formation, aware of England’s need for elite talent in the No. 6 position. Elliot Anderson‘s commendable displays against Andorra and Serbia bolster the idea that Tuchel could address this issue, allowing him to pair Declan Rice with Anderson, subsequently permitting four attack-minded players in front in a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Team Dynamics
This situation becomes complex, as the assertion of last month’s camp being Tuchel’s best in terms of camaraderie implies doubt about the contributions of those absent.
“The last camp was the best I’ve been a part of,” winger Anthony Gordon told ESPN. “Everyone seemed genuinely happy and satisfied. On the field, we delivered one of our best performances, and it felt as though everything was aligned both on and off the pitch.”
“Therefore, it doesn’t surprise me that the same squad has been selected, but we can’t become complacent; we must elevate our performance levels yet again.”
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Tuchel provides insight into Bellingham’s omission from the England squad.
Thomas Tuchel discusses why Jude Bellingham is not included in his latest England roster.
Quansah, having been called up for just six camps so far and yet to make his debut for England, echoed Gordon’s sentiment: “There’s great team chemistry across the squads. Consistent good performances foster a positive environment within the camp.”
While there are no known issues involving Bellingham, Tuchel emphasized that there is “no problem” with him, Foden, or Jack Grealish — all left out of this latest lineup. However, sources have indicated that some tensions arose among players during last summer’s Euro 2024 campaign, notably with Bellingham seemingly expressing frustration towards Southgate amid escalating pressure during critical moments.
Southgate admitted post-final that he considered substituting Bellingham for extra time, had England not fallen behind after Mikel Oyarzabal‘s goal in the 86th minute.
More significantly, Tuchel has previously criticized certain behaviors from Bellingham, stating in a radio interview in June, “When he smiles, he wins everyone over. But there are times when his anger and passion emerge in a way that can be unappealing.”
Tuchel later issued an apology, acknowledging the misstep in his choice of words, but he has nonetheless doubled down by choosing to exclude Bellingham again this month.
As former England international Gary Neville pointed out, “He’s definitely sending a message. Historically, England managers have typically worked to reintegrate their star players, even if they haven’t recently featured, to maintain morale.”
“This serves as a message to Jude Bellingham; there’s enough evidence from Tuchel’s press conferences to infer that he’s not hesitant to make difficult choices. Clearly, there are traits he finds concerning — not just in Bellingham, but in other players too, and he seems intent on sending that message.”
The ball is now in Bellingham’s court to respond positively during his time at Real Madrid.
Bellingham’s substitute appearance during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Villarreal was mixed, leaving room for interpretation. The ongoing international break could potentially serve as a mini-preseason, providing him the opportunity to regain peak performance as he approaches a challenging month with Real, featuring a UEFA Champions League match against Juventus and the season’s first Clásico against Barcelona on October 26 (stream LIVE at 1:15 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.). Meanwhile, Bellingham’s Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé is set to join the French national team despite suffering an ankle injury following his third goal against Villarreal.
Gordon reflected, “You definitely sense Bellingham’s absence because of his immense influence as a player. However, considering his recent injury struggles, this time off may benefit him. Given how much football he has played at such a young age — it’s incredible. He has had a tough few months, but this might provide a valuable opportunity to establish a rhythm again.”
“We all understand that if he’s fit and playing regularly for Real Madrid,” Gordon concluded, “he will undoubtedly be part of the England setup.”