Thomas Tuchel Desires Bellingham's Aggression So Long As The Three Lions' Star Sets Aside Egotism at the Door.
One snub was enough. A second one and it could have seemed vindictive from the England manager, who is extremely shrewd not to know that winning the World Cup demands help from Jude Bellingham, although it is also on the midfielder to adapt to the tactical structures and team pecking order necessary with England now that he is returned to the manager's supportive environment.
The manager wants the player's competitive fire, his fire, but it is about harnessing it constructively. Individual quality is important but England have learned the hard way that there is consequences when stardom takes over. Still, a message has been sent.
The midfielder was given food for thought after being left out of the recent team selection. He watched the national side qualify at next summer’s World Cup without him. He saw the young talent shine as a high-pressing attacking midfielder. He heard Tuchel talk about appreciating the team's dynamism and principles. Naturally, Bellingham has responded in top form, netting important strikes for Real Madrid versus their rivals and the Italian side. Inclusion was a must; another omission would have put his tournament chances in serious doubt.
The hope is that Tuchel will have a Bellingham focused on pressuring the opposition instead of his own colleagues. Ultimately, on a pure footballing level, there is little benefit to starting a conflict with an elite performer in the world. The ideal scenario is that his period not playing has demonstrated that playing for one's country is a precious, precarious thing. Tuchel, for his part, can now throw a protective shield around the youngster after demonstrating that he is not afraid to take tough decisions.
“No issue exists regarding him, there is no problem with the character,” the German stated. “Bellingham displays a competitive streak. It takes that kind of fire to succeed at the top that he has. We all need to help him and build a setting where he can [have] his drive against rivals and for the objectives we are striving for as a team.”
The star took up most of the attention at Tuchel’s squad announcement for the upcoming dead-rubber qualifiers against one opponent and Albania. Any other news? Indeed, what about Phil Foden? This is a further gifted No 10 in need of love and guidance. He has not played for England since March and has found it hard to reach his best recently but the boss could not ignore the 25-year-old after his performance in the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund recently.
The issue, though, is how to use the attacking talents at available. Rogers and Eze merit inclusion and there will be a strong case to include another youngster once he is fit after a ongoing injury. Would taking five No 10s to the World Cup be too many? Gareth Southgate never found the optimal mix at Euro 2024. He compromised by squeezing both stars into the team, cramping the captain's game in the process.
It is hard to see Tuchel doing similar if it harms the attacking balance. There is room for one No 10, with speedy wingers on the wings. Clarity is beneficial. Bellingham is selected as a No 10. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, selected for the first time, is a No 8 and the returning Adam Wharton will battle Elliot Anderson as a No 6. There will also be no position on the wing for the City star, who has to be through the middle. Tuchel prefers him near Kane. “It does not make sense to ask Foden: ‘We want you in the team but no spot exists in your preferred role, can you play left wing? Can you play right wing?” he said. “He is to feature in the advanced midfield role, in the middle of the pitch. I've long had this idea about him for a long time. In my view it fits his style the most.”
Tuchel conceded there are times when Foden has not looked himself in an England shirt. “One senses almost like, ‘Does he really enjoy it? And someone of his caliber who has such natural delight for the game, then clearly an issue exists, be it the position, the setup, I don’t know.
“In my opinion he is additionally so used to representing Man City in a particular setup, with a clear task. Believe he profits a lot from clear instructions. What is my position? Where exactly should I turn? When should I to push the tempo? What are my to defensive duties?”
Tuchel discussed one star bursting through for tap-ins and the other netting strikes from outside the box. He said he has a longlist of many candidates. Morgan Gibbs-White, others, James Trafford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have dropped out. A new face is rewarded for his good displays for City at defense. Interest abounds.
Leaving out of Ollie Watkins means there is no like-for-like alternative for the captain in the selection. Interestingly, he suggested deploying the playmaker as a deep-lying striker against one opponent or the other. Other options, Marcus Rashford, Bellingham and Jarrod Bowen are alternatives should he be unavailable. With qualification secured, this is an opportunity for testing tactics.
At the same time, it is additionally a moment to develop Kane’s relationship with his teammate flowing. It's surprising that one must look back to Bellingham setting up the captain to net in a friendly win against Scotland in September 2023 to find the one and only time in 35 games for the national team when the duo combined for a goal. Tuchel will be aware that Kane and Bellingham only passed to each other once during England’s draws with one opponent and another at the European Championship. The connection is lacking.
“This is where eventually it becomes the duty of the players,” he said. He is not afraid to speak frankly. There is still a sense of the player having to prove himself. He may not be assured to start versus Serbia and Albania. Tuchel wants him onside but he will be observing him closely. Set aside the ego outside. It will make a very strong England team into an even better one.
