England: Thomas Tuchel to decide Jude Bellingham fate this week as World Cup 2026 plans take shape | OneFootball

Real Madrid star was overlooked as the Three Lions’ boss kept faith with others

Thomas Tuchel will decide this week whether to stick or twist with his England squad.

The German made a point this month of keeping faith with largely the same squad picked for September’s two qualifiers, feeling the group had found a “squad harmony”.

Jude Bellingham played 86 minutes at the weekend

Getty Images

That group did not include Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was overlooked soon after returning from shoulder surgery.

Tuchel also spoke to Phil Foden, Adam Wharton, Jack Grealish, and Trevoh Chalobah before the last squad selection, informing them that they had all “deserved” to be included but that he would be keeping the squad the same as September’s, injuries permitting.

Conversations with staff on Monday will form part of Tuchel’s decision over whether to experiment next month and reintegrate the likes of Bellingham, or whether to again keep the group the same as in September and October.

England’s 5-0 win in Riga sealed qualification for next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States with two games to spare. England are yet to concede a goal in their qualifying group and have already beaten next month’s opponents Serbia and Albania 5-0 and 2-0, respectively.

Tuchel was asked after the Latvia victory what shape his squad may take in November for England’s final two matches of the calendar year.

I can assure you we will stay competitive no matter how we decide and how we organise these two matches

Thomas Tuchel last week

“To be very honest, I don’t know,” he said. “Now we know that we have qualified. I’m not so sure if this changes anything in the nomination process. Maybe it does, but I need to get my head around it next week.

“Now is the moment to enjoy it. You can feel it in the dressing room. The dressing room is all smiles; it is a very special moment.

Tuchel continued: “Harry [Kane] just gave a speech where he said that we keep this thing going in November. No one will step back or lean back. They feel they are building something.

“Maybe it will give us the chance to try some stuff. Maybe it will give us the chance to manage minutes.

“But I can assure you we will stay competitive no matter how we decide and how we organise these two matches. We want to win both matches, because we owe it to ourselves. What we build is very precious, and we will not gamble on it.”