Jude Bellingham will be a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s drive to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification for England.
Tuchel has been drafted in with a clear brief of ending England’s 60-year wait for a major trophy in the men’s game following successive UEFA European Championship final losses under Gareth Southgate.
The former Chelsea boss is relishing the challenge of taking the next step with a talented squad but there is still work to do to turn the current team into the unit he wants.
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A debut goal for Myles Lewis-Skelly – alongside Harry Kane’s traditional goal at Wembley – ensured a perfect start for Tuchel as England cruised to a 2-0 home win over Albania on March 21.
An important box has been ticked for Tuchel, with England fans keen to see how he will set up tactically, and which players will be utilised by the German coach.
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Bellingham is expected to be as important to Tuchel as he was under Southgate, with a return to a hybrid No.10 role at Real Madrid in recent months, with 11 goals and nine assists across all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in 2024/25.
He played a similar role, in behind Kane, against Albania – but Tuchel admitted his game needs to be tweaked, if he wants to reach full velocity with the Three Lions.
“He’s always ready to give everything, but we need to help him, so that within a structure he can play more economically and still have the same impact, or maybe more,” as per quotes from The Guardian.
“We need to make sure that the leaders – and he is one of them – all walk in the same direction and play in the same rhythm to help each other. And play a little more disciplined maybe, to save energy for those decisive moments.”
Bellingham is expected to keep his starting spot as England host Latvia at Wembley on March 24 before a club return with Real Madrid at home to Leganes on March 29.
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