Tuchel stops Bellingham: Is discipline key to England’s success in the World Cup?

Tuchel and the Strategy Behind Jude Bellingham’s Exclusion

England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, known for his character and bold decisions in clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, has once again sparked controversy. This time, the omission of Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s star, from the call-up for the matches against Wales and Latvia has ignited the debate. While Tuchel denies having problems with Bellingham, the decision suggests a clear message to the most talented player on his team. Sources close to the English team suggest that there may be certain internal dynamics in the locker room that have influenced this choice.

• Tuchel’s number 10 debate intensifies with Rogers’ inclusion.
• Analysis on when England could secure their qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
• Reasons behind the surprising absence of Bellingham, considered England’s best player.

Bellingham, known for his intensity and determination, can sometimes project an image that some teammates might interpret as dismissive. The player himself has acknowledged that he uses a “macho image” to protect himself, indicating that he is aware of the situation.

“You notice when he’s not there. He’s a big presence, a very important player,” commented Anthony Gordon, Bellingham’s teammate.

Anthony Gordon

Nobody denies Bellingham’s importance to England, both as a creator and a goalscorer. However, Tuchel seems to want to send a clear message: nobody has a guaranteed position. Players like Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers or Morgan Gibbs-White are in the spotlight, which implies that Bellingham must fight for his place like any other player.

Tuchel, known for his demanding nature, even went so far as to express that Bellingham’s behavior on the field sometimes seemed “repugnant” to his mother, although he later retracted and apologized. This statement reflects some dissatisfaction with the player’s attitude. Tuchel’s intention seems to be to shape a team for the World Cup, free of tensions. This strategy is reminiscent of that of the legendary coach Sir Alf Ramsey, who in 1966 kept his players in suspense, even the most reliable ones.

This week, Steven Gerrard, former England player, stated that the talented national teams he played in failed because they were “selfish losers” with small cliques. Therefore, building a unified team is paramount for Tuchel, as it was for his predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate. Although Tuchel could have justified Bellingham’s absence due to injury, the coach made it clear that it was a performance-based decision, arguing that the player lacked “rhythm” in his game. In addition, he wanted to reward the players who shone in the 5-0 victory against Serbia, keeping the same team. In short, Tuchel seeks to build a united team with team spirit, a key factor for success in important matches. Tuchel, like Ramsey 59 years ago, will do things his way, regardless of criticism. A brave decision and, possibly, the right one. Bellingham will surely return to the team with the determination to prove his worth, and as a world-class player, he will have taken note of his coach’s instructions.