A single omission proved sufficient. Another and it would have started to look vindictive from the England manager, a coach who is much too clever not to know that securing World Cup glory is probably going to require help from the talented midfielder, although it is equally on the midfielder to fit into the game plans and player rankings essential with the national team now that he is returned to the manager's welcoming fold.
The manager wants the player's competitive fire, his intensity, but it is about harnessing it constructively. Personal talent matters but the squad have learned the hard way that there is a price to pay when fame dominates. Still, a point has been made.
Bellingham was given food for thought after not being selected of last month’s squad. He observed the national side secure their spot at the upcoming World Cup without him. He saw Morgan Rogers perform brilliantly as a counterpressing attacking midfielder. He listened as Tuchel discuss loving the team's dynamism and ethics. Naturally, Bellingham has responded in winning fashion, finding the back of the net for his club versus Barcelona and the Italian side. He had to be picked; a second snub would have made his squad place in serious doubt.
The expectation is that Tuchel will have a Bellingham directed towards frightening rivals instead of teammates. Ultimately, in purely sporting terms, there is no advantage to starting a conflict with a top talent in the world. The best outcome is that Bellingham’s time on the sidelines has made him realize that an international career is a precious, precarious thing. The coach, on his side, can now offer support around the 22-year-old after showing that he is not afraid to drop big names.
“No issue exists regarding him, and no concern with the character,” Tuchel said. “Bellingham possesses a competitive streak. It takes a certain edge to succeed at the top that he reached. Everyone must help him and build a atmosphere where he can channel that intensity in matches and towards the goals we are striving for as a team.”
The star took up most of the attention at the manager's selection reveal for this month’s final group games against Serbia and the other. Who else? Indeed, what about Phil Foden? Here is another prodigious No 10 requiring love and guidance. He has not played for the national team since March and has struggled to perform well recently but the boss could not ignore the 25-year-old after how he played in the Champions League match against the German side recently.
The issue, though, is the best way to deploy the various creators at available. Rogers and Eze deserve their spots and there will be a strong case to pick Cole Palmer once he recovers from a ongoing injury. Would taking several attacking midfielders to the tournament be excessive? Gareth Southgate never found the optimal mix at the European Championship. He made concessions by squeezing Foden and Bellingham into the starting lineup, cramping the captain's influence as a result.
It seems unlikely Tuchel making the same mistake if it disrupts the offensive structure. Space exists for a single playmaker, with fast wide players on the wings. Clarity is beneficial. He is in as a No 10. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, selected for the first occasion, is a No 8 and the recalled Wharton will compete with Elliot Anderson as a No 6. There will also be no wide role for Foden, who has to be through the middle. Tuchel prefers him near the striker. “It does not make sense to tell Phil: ‘We want you on the pitch but there’s no space on your best position, could you fill in at the left side? Can you play right wing?” he stated. “He is to feature in the No 9-10ish position, in the middle of the pitch. I have this fantasy about him for years. I think it matches his abilities best.”
He agreed there are times when Foden has seemed out of sorts in an national jersey. “You feel as if, ‘Is he truly happy? And a player like him who has this childish joy for the game, then clearly something is not right, be it his role, the setup, it's unclear.
“In my opinion he is also so used to playing for Man City in a specific system, with a clear task. Believe he benefits greatly from clarity. Where do you want me to be? Where exactly am I to receive the ball? When should I to accelerate the match? Where do I have to defensive duties?”
Tuchel discussed one star making runs for tap-ins and Foden scoring goals from outside the box. He said he has a extended list of many candidates. Morgan Gibbs-White, others, the goalkeeper and the midfielder have been omitted. A new face is rewarded for his good displays for City at defense. Intrigue abounds.
The omission of the striker means there is no like-for-like alternative for Kane in this squad. Fascinatingly, Tuchel hinted at deploying the playmaker as a false 9 against one opponent or the other. Anthony Gordon, the United forward, the midfielder and Jarrod Bowen are other options if Kane be unavailable. With qualification secured, this is a moment for testing tactics.
Meanwhile, it is also a moment to foster Kane’s relationship with Bellingham going. It's surprising that one must look back to Bellingham assisting Kane to net in a friendly win versus Scotland in September 2023 to discover the sole instance in many appearances for the national team when the pair linked up for a score. The coach will know that the two stars only passed to each other a single time during England’s draws with one opponent and Slovenia at the European Championship. Their partnership is missing.
“This is where eventually it falls to the responsibility of the individuals,” he stated. He does not shy away to be blunt. There is still a sense of the player having to prove himself. He cannot even be assured to begin against the upcoming opponents. Tuchel wants Bellingham committed but he will be watching him carefully. Leave self-importance at the door. Doing so could turn a very strong squad into an even better one.
