Tuchel and Bellingham: Discipline key to England’s World Cup success?

Tuchel and Bellingham: A Tension in the English Selection

The England coach, Thomas Tuchel, known for his direct and straightforward style, has shown throughout his career at clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, that he is not afraid to confront his superiors. This characteristic has often shortened his periods at the teams. Now, that same attitude is manifested in his decision to leave Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid star, out of the squad for the upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia.

Although Tuchel denies having problems with Bellingham, the situation suggests a clear message from the coach to his most talented player. Analyzing the signals, there seems to be some concern about the attitude of the Real Madrid player within the English dressing room.

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Speculation has arisen regarding Bellingham’s possible perception, who sometimes projects an image that could be interpreted as dismissive towards his less prominent teammates. The player himself has admitted to maintaining a “macho image” to protect himself, indicating that he is aware of the current dynamics.

“You realize when he’s not there,” commented Anthony Gordon, teammate in England. “He’s a great presence, a very important player.”

Anthony Gordon

Nobody questions Bellingham’s importance to England, both as a playmaker and a goalscorer. His teammates and friends, like Jordan Henderson, describe him as a “brilliant person”. The current situation is reminiscent of previous episodes in Bellingham’s career, where some more experienced players showed reservations about his attitude. It’s easy to forget Bellingham’s rapid rise, who debuted for Birmingham City at 16 and has accumulated a remarkable number of matches at club and national team level, as well as becoming a global celebrity. Tuchel, apparently, seeks to send the message that no one has their position secured and that other players like Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers or Morgan Gibbs-White are in the spotlight. The idea is clear: “Fight for your place like everyone else. There are no favorites here.” The coach had already generated controversy by mentioning that Bellingham’s attitude on the field was sometimes “repulsive” to his mother, although he later retracted and apologized. This situation suggests Tuchel’s desire to obtain a more adapted version of the player, combining his talent with a better attitude. This strategy is reminiscent of that of coach Sir Alf Ramsey, who kept his key players on tenterhooks in 1966. Tuchel, like Ramsey, seems willing to keep his players on alert.

This measure could be interpreted as Tuchel’s attempt to build a team for the World Cup free of tensions, a problem that has affected teams like France and Spain in the past. The goal is to build a united team, something that his predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate, was also looking for. Tuchel could have justified Bellingham’s absence due to injury, but chose to base his decision on performance, arguing that the player lacked “rhythm.” Furthermore, Tuchel wanted to reward the players who achieved a resounding 5-0 victory against Serbia, keeping the same team, although he had to replace the injured Noni Madueke with Bukayo Saka. Tuchel’s strategy seems focused on reaching the World Cup with a united team, capable of making a difference in crucial moments. Bellingham, a world-class player, will surely take note of his coach’s instructions, seeking to improve and contribute even more to the team.