Under the steady rain of a north-west London evening, a subtle but significant drama unfolded at Wembley. As England secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Serbia in a redundant World Cup qualifying tie, all eyes were on one man sitting behind the dugout: Jude Bellingham.
The Warm-Up: A Star in Waiting
Before the match, the first team warmed up in bright red bibs, a stark contrast to the rest. On the other side of the pitch, Jude Bellingham was deep in concentration, crouched in the centre of a rondo with fellow substitutes, attempting to dispossess Dan Burn, Jarrod Bowen, and Trevoh Chalobah.
When the national anthems played, Bellingham was not among the starting lineup. He took a seat in the stands, a conspicuous figure as photographers often trained their lenses on him instead of the players on the pitch. This was a calculated move by manager Thomas Tuchel, who is carefully choreographing the talented midfielder's quest for acceptance back into the fold.
Tuchel's Tactical Masterstroke
The decision to omit Bellingham was not made lightly. Tuchel has been masterful in his man-management, particularly following the player's absence from the campaign's stand-out victory in Belgrade and the subsequent qualifier against Latvia. With concerns previously raised about his attitude, Tuchel has handled the situation with precision.
Few could argue with the manager's choice to start Morgan Rogers in the coveted number 10 role. The Aston Villa midfielder has earned his place with consistently credit-worthy performances. Dropping him would have sent entirely the wrong message to a squad that achieved World Cup qualification with two games to spare, a far cry from the last-gasp dramas of eras past.
The pivotal 5-0 away win against Serbia in Belgrade was the defining result of both the campaign and Tuchel's tenure, a match where he kept his nerve under pressure.
A Strange Sight and a Welcome Return
Despite the logical reasoning, it felt strange to see a player of Bellingham's calibre reduced to a spectator. Accustomed to starring roles, he is not a natural benchwarmer. A telling detail was the number 10 shirt hidden beneath his tracksuit top.
The Wembley crowd made their feelings clear. When the team was read out before kick-off, Bellingham's name received the most enthusiastic cheer. Yet, he could not respond, a man of dramatic moments forced to watch from the sidelines as England controlled a game often shorn of urgency.
He watched Bukayo Saka stir the passions of a lifeless crowd just before the half-hour, volleying home clinically after Serbia's goalkeeper failed to clear a free-kick. He saw Harry Kane head a chance just wide and witnessed Marcus Rashford's continued rebirth on the wing.
At half-time, a poll on one website asked if Bellingham should be introduced, with a majority voting against it. Tuchel agreed. It wasn't until the 65th minute that the moment arrived. After Dusan Vlahovic wasted Serbia's best chance, a thrill of excitement ran around the ground as Bellingham removed his tracksuit and prepared to come on.
His introduction, alongside Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze, and Phil Foden, was met with the biggest cheer of the night.
Instant Impact and a Glimpse of the Future
Bellingham was at the heart of the action immediately. His presence galvanised both the team and the crowd, injecting a new sense of intent into England's play. He swapped passes, delivered dangerous crosses, and was instrumental in a move that nearly ended with Eze scoring.
It wasn't all perfection—a wild shot ballooned high into the stands—but his influence was undeniable. He led charges and forged attacks, playing a part in the move that concluded with Eberechi Eze curling a brilliant shot into the top corner to seal the 2-0 victory after a lay-off from Phil Foden.
While not a stirring night overall, England were indisputably better after Bellingham's introduction. This was the first step in his rehabilitation, a clear message heeded and acted upon. The World Cup may be distant, but at Wembley, Jude Bellingham staked his claim once more.
