England manager Thomas Tuchel has unveiled a powerful starting lineup for the upcoming international fixture against Serbia at Wembley, headlined by the notable omission of star midfielder Jude Bellingham from the first eleven.
Surprise Selection Sees Rogers Preferred
In a major team news revelation, Jude Bellingham has been relegated to the bench despite his recent recall to the national squad. Tuchel has once again placed his trust in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who retains the coveted Number 10 role. The attacking impetus will be led by captain Harry Kane, who brings his formidable club form to the international stage, having scored 23 times in 17 games for Bayern Munich this season.
The flanks will be occupied by Bukayo Saka of Arsenal and Barcelona's Marcus Rashford. This selection comes after Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a hip injury.
Midfield Stability and Defensive Debut
The engine room sees continuity, with Tuchel sticking with his preferred midfield pivot. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are handed the starting berths once more. The England boss was full of praise for Anderson in the build-up to the match, stating, 'Anderson is a key player for us at the moment. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League... He is a very complete and mobile midfielder.'
This decision means that talents like Adam Wharton and Phil Foden must also be content with places among the substitutes, alongside Jordan Henderson and Eberechi Eze.
In defence, a debut awaits as Nico O'Reilly is handed his first start at left-back. He will line up alongside Reece James on the right, with the central defensive partnership comprising Ezri Konsa and John Stones. Jordan Pickford starts in goal, aiming to extend his exceptional record of nine consecutive clean sheets for the national team.
Tuchel's Tactical Reasoning
Explaining the difficult selection choices, Tuchel admitted that accommodating Foden, Bellingham, and Kane together in the current system is a challenge. He highlighted the direct competition for the attacking midfield role, noting, 'At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play... There is a lot of congruence, especially in the No 10 position.' He specifically mentioned Rogers, Bellingham, and Foden as contenders for that single spot, praising Foden's versatility to also operate as a forward.
The England boss's comments underscore a clear tactical plan, prioritising team balance and structure over simply fielding all his biggest names, setting the stage for a fascinating encounter at a packed Wembley Stadium.
