“It’s Not About Names”: Tuchel On Leaving Bellingham Out Of His Squad

‎Thomas Tuchel has stated that the best players do not always make the best team, hinting that Jude Bellingham might have missed out on England’s latest squad even if fully fit after his shoulder injury.

‎The England head coach emphasized that team balance and chemistry guided his decisions. He also suggested that Bukayo Saka may not have been recalled if Arsenal’s Noni Madueke were available.

‎Tuchel’s squad selection reflects his focus on unity ahead of next week’s friendly against Wales and a World Cup qualifier in Latvia.

‎Tuchel loved the energy in the camp when his side beat Andorra and excelled against Serbia without Bellingham last month and has seen no reason to alter the group dynamic.

‎Yet that loyalty caused an inevitable stir when he decided not to restore some of his ­biggest creative talents on Friday.

‎Jude Bellingham, who has started only once for Real Madrid this season, was left out of the England squad, while Phil Foden also missed out despite his strong form at Manchester City.

‎Tuchel issues with Bellingham

‎Tuchel partly attributed Bellingham’s omission to fitness concerns but admitted the midfielder was eager to be included after their recent phone conversation.

‎The England coach had previously apologised to Bellingham in August for comments suggesting the player’s competitive “edge” could sometimes seem “a bit repulsive.”

‎This time, Tuchel was keen to stress there is no problem between him and the 22-year-old, but he came ready to defend the omission of England’s player of the year for 2024-25.

‎“We’re building the best team,” said Tuchel, who was even more forthright when it was put to him that sides who win the World Cup tend to pick their most dangerous ­forwards.

‎“Do you have proof of that?” he said.

‎“It doesn’t count what we did in the last camp? I have proof that the last camp was our best camp. I stick with the squad.”

‎Tuchel believes the win over ­Serbia provided enough evidence not to pick Bellingham and Foden. ­Everton’s Jack Grealish was also left out.

‎“Don’t you think that ­behaviour on the bench, support from the bench, support from training, the ­competition, the ­togetherness ­enables the 11 to play like they played?” he said.

‎“I strongly believe that. I felt it in ­Belgrade, behind me on the bench. It’s not against Phil, it’s not against Jack, it’s not against Jude. Even if you can turn it around and say it is, it is not. It is for the guys who were in camp and who performed at this kind of level.”

‎Tuchel indicated that the ­situation might have been the same if ­Bellingham was fully fit.

‎“It would have been a different basis, but it could have been the same ­outcome,” he said.

‎Emphasising he has no ­personal issue with Bellingham, he said, “To make it fully clear, we can have the same harmony, the same level of performance with him.”

‎England boasts several strong options in the No. 10 role, with Morgan Rogers shining against Serbia and Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White keeping their places. Tuchel said he chose to reward players who have consistently proven themselves to him.

‎“What would be my ­explanation to leave them out and also be ­authentic in my words?” he said.

‎“After the ­Serbia match, I went into the dressing room and I told them what I told you. Imagine then I have a phone call and leave four ­players out. What would you think as a player? For credibility as a coach you need to walk the talk.”

‎The only change was enforced, the injured Madueke dropping out for Saka, who has recovered from a ­hamstring strain.

‎Tuchel on World Cup 2026 Squad

‎Tuchel, who insisted this squad should not ­automatically be read as a sign of his intentions for next summer’s World Cup, is keeping his players on their toes. He said there was a chance Saka would have missed out if Madueke were fit.

‎Attention also turned to another missing forward, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury.

‎The setback has kept him out of five of the last seven England camps, putting his place in Tuchel’s plans at risk.

‎With only two international camps remaining before the World Cup, his absence comes at a crucial time. Tuchel added that he does not expect Palmer to feature for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest on October 18.

‎Tuchel did not name a direct replacement at full-back for the injured Tino Livramento. John Stones is back at centre-back after pulling out last month.

‎Tuchel spoke to Foden, Grealish, Adam Wharton, Trevoh Chalobah, and Curtis Jones about leaving them out, but did not call Burnley’s Kyle Walker about his second consecutive omission.

‎Tuchel voiced his support for England’s World Cup matches to kick off as late as possible due to concerns about the heat in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

‎He believes later start times would help protect players from extreme conditions.

‎However, he acknowledged that such scheduling could create challenges for fans and broadcasters back in the UK.

‎“I know the fans will not like it but for us it’s better if we play later,” Tuchel said.

‎“For everyone, it’s better to play later. If you do a run at 2pm in Charlotte then you know. We have put the players first. The players are the game and we have to protect the game.

‎“Midnight here, I understand that it’s bad for our fans, it’s bad for the children, bad for the young people who go to school, very bad. There will be a lot of drop-outs the next day at school.”