Under Tuchel, the English national football team has already made history – they played the perfect qualification and got their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Eight games, eight wins. Zero goals conceded. No European team had ever achieved this before.
Tuchel appears correspondingly self-confident. “That’s the decision and he has to accept the decision,” said the England coach after the game against Albania, referring to Bellingham. “His friend is waiting on the sidelines, so you have to accept that, respect that and move on.”
Bellingham and Rogers grew up just a few miles apart in the English Midlands; they went to school together and played youth football on the same team. Rogers once called Bellingham “my little big brother.” But both play in the same position. And Tuchel makes it clear that he has no regard for sentimentality. Although he doesn’t want to make more of it, he stands by his word. “Respect for the teammates who come in is essential,” said the German.
The fact that Tuchel skipped Bellingham for the international matches in October caused a stir in the English media. The coach was described as a “man with an axe” and “ruthless”. Unimpressed by this, Tuchel recently emphasized that he was not guaranteeing Bellingham a regular place in the attacking midfield. The Real star has to earn his place just like all the other players.