One snub was enough. Another and it would have started to look spiteful from the England manager, who is far too wily not to understand that securing World Cup glory will likely need contributions by Jude Bellingham, even if it is also on the midfielder to fit into the strategic frameworks and player rankings required with England now that he is returned to the manager's warm embrace.
Tuchel wants Bellingham's edge, his intensity, but it is about harnessing it constructively. Personal talent counts but the squad have learned the hard way that there is a price to pay when celebrity takes over. Still, a statement has been delivered.
Bellingham had plenty to reflect on after not being selected of the recent team selection. He watched England book their place at the upcoming World Cup without him. He saw the young talent perform brilliantly as a high-pressing attacking midfielder. He heard the coach mention valuing the group’s energy and ethics. Inevitably, he has responded in champion style, finding the back of the net for his club versus their rivals and Juventus. He had to be picked; another omission would have left his World Cup hopes precarious.
The hope is that the manager will have a Bellingham focused on frightening rivals instead of teammates. After all, on a pure footballing level, there is no advantage to creating tension with an elite performer in the world. The ideal scenario is that his period out of the team has demonstrated that playing for one's country is a valuable, precarious thing. The coach, for his part, can now provide cover around the 22-year-old after demonstrating that he is willing to make big calls.
“There is no problem with him, and no concern with the character,” Tuchel stated. “Jude possesses the edge. You need a certain edge to succeed at the top that he has. We all need to help him and establish a setting which he can [have] this edge against rivals and in pursuit of success we are working towards as a team.”
Bellingham dominated most of the attention at the team news conference for this month’s dead-rubber qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Any other news? Well, what about another talent? Here is another prodigious No 10 requiring coaching. He has been absent for the national team since spring and has struggled to perform well recently but Tuchel was impressed by the 25-year-old after how he played in Manchester City’s win versus the German side recently.
The question, though, is the best way to deploy the multiple playmakers at England’s disposal. Rogers and Eberechi Eze have earned their places and there will be a good argument to pick Cole Palmer once he recovers from a fitness issue. Would taking five No 10s to the tournament be an overkill? Gareth Southgate never found the correct balance at the European Championship. He compromised by squeezing both stars into the same XI, cramping the captain's style in the process.
It is hard to see the current manager making the same mistake if it harms the offensive structure. There is room for a single playmaker, with fast wide players on the flanks. Clear roles helps. Bellingham is in as a central attacker. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, called up for the first occasion, is a central midfielder and the recalled Adam Wharton will vie with another player as a No 6. Additionally, there is no position on the wing for Foden, who has to be through the middle. The coach wants him near Kane. “It is illogical to tell Phil: ‘You are needed on the pitch but there’s no space in your preferred role, can you play the left side? Can you play other flank?’” he stated. “Phil will play in the central attacking zone, in the middle of the pitch. I have this fantasy about him for years. I think it fits his style the most.”
Tuchel agreed there are occasions when the player has seemed out of sorts in an national jersey. “You feel as if, ‘Is he truly happy? And someone of his caliber who has this childish joy to play football, then clearly something is not right, be it his role, the environment, it's unclear.
“I think he is also so used to playing for his club in a particular setup, to have a defined role. I think he profits a lot from clear instructions. Where do you want me to be? Where exactly am I to receive the ball? Where am I supposed to push the tempo? What are my to defend?
Tuchel discussed Bellingham bursting through for tap-ins and the other drilling in goals from outside the box. He added he has a longlist of many candidates. Several players, Myles Lewis-Skelly, the goalkeeper and the midfielder have been omitted. Nico O’Reilly is rewarded for his good displays for City at defense. Intrigue is high.
Leaving out of the striker means there is no like-for-like alternative for Kane in the selection. Fascinatingly, he suggested using Foden as a deep-lying striker against Serbia or the other. Other options, the United forward, Bellingham and Jarrod Bowen are other options should he be unavailable. Since the place is booked, this is a moment for a little experimentation.
At the same time, it is additionally a moment to foster Kane’s relationship with Bellingham going. It is remarkable that you have to go back to Bellingham setting up Kane to score in an international match against Scotland in September 2023 to discover the one and only time in many appearances for England when the duo linked up for a score. Tuchel will know that Kane and Bellingham only passed to each other once during England’s draws with one opponent and another at the Euros. Their partnership is missing.
“At this point eventually it becomes the duty of the players,” Tuchel stated. He does not shy away to be blunt. There is still a sense of Bellingham having to prove himself. He cannot even be assured to begin against Serbia and Albania. Tuchel wants Bellingham onside but he will be observing him closely. Leave the ego outside. Doing so could turn a very strong squad into an more effective one.
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