England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his decision to leave Jude Bellingham out of the national team squad for October’s fixtures, stressing that the midfielder’s limited game time since returning from injury played a decisive role.
Bellingham, 22, who was voted England’s Player of the Year by fans for the 2024–25 season, recently resumed action for Real Madrid after undergoing shoulder surgery in July. However, Tuchel highlighted that the midfielder is yet to complete a full match and has made just one start since his return — a factor that weighed heavily in his selection decisions.
“I understand why there’s so much focus on Jude — he’s a special player, and for players like him, there can always be exceptions,” Tuchel explained on Friday. “But for this camp, we decided to stick with a consistent approach and bring back the same group that delivered strong results last time. He hasn’t found full rhythm yet at Real Madrid, and that’s crucial for international football.”
Tuchel confirmed he had spoken directly with Bellingham, who was eager to rejoin the squad, but emphasised that the decision was made with the team’s overall balance and form in mind.
The omission comes amid lingering scrutiny over Tuchel’s relationship with the midfielder after he apologised in June for describing Bellingham’s on-pitch behaviour as “repulsive” following a friendly defeat to Senegal. Tuchel, however, dismissed any suggestion of tension.
“There’s no problem between me and Jude — just as there’s no issue with Phil Foden or Jack Grealish,” Tuchel said. “Do I believe we’re stronger with Jude? Absolutely. Is he one of the best midfielders in the world? Of course. But this is a team sport. We cannot depend on one player, and we showed in the last camp that we can find solutions without relying on individuals.”
Tuchel has largely retained the squad that secured Group K qualifying wins over Andorra and Serbia last month, opting for stability over wholesale changes. That means Foden and Grealish remain sidelined despite impressive club form. Foden has contributed two goals and two assists for Manchester City this season, while Grealish — on loan at Everton — recently won the Premier League Player of the Month award after registering four assists.
The England boss acknowledged their quality but challenged both to continue raising their levels to force their way back into contention. “They’re exceptional players, but they have to keep pushing,” Tuchel noted. “The last camp was our best yet in terms of team spirit and cohesion, so it made sense to keep that group together and build on what we started.”
One notable inclusion is Bukayo Saka, who returns after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Arsenal winger is the only new addition to the squad that delivered a 5-0 victory over Serbia, Tuchel’s most emphatic result since taking charge.
“The result was excellent and, more importantly, fully deserved,” Tuchel said. “We wanted to reward that performance by maintaining consistency and giving the same group another opportunity.”
England could secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup as Group K winners with a victory over Latvia on 14 October, provided Serbia and Albania draw in their meeting.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins
