Thomas Tuchel has insisted that England can win the World Cup without Jude Bellingham, sending a strong message to the Real Madrid star ahead of the tournament. Bellingham, one of England's biggest names, is in a three-way battle with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the No. 10 role.
Tuchel's Firm Stance
Speaking ahead of England's Group opener against Croatia on June 17, Tuchel made it clear that Bellingham's place in the starting lineup is not guaranteed. 'We have a lot of proof we can win football matches without Jude, and that's the more important headline,' Tuchel said. 'Jude is in amazing form, but we have to stop talking about individuals. Jude will not win this World Cup alone. It's simply impossible.'
Tuchel emphasized the importance of the team over any individual player. 'No one will win this World Cup alone. We win it as a team. What will we do if Jude has an injury tomorrow? Hopefully he will not have one, but we must be prepared.'
Competition for Places
The England boss highlighted the intense competition for the attacking midfield role. 'It is a big decision because all three players competing are starters at the highest level. Ebs (Eberechi Eze) has played as a No. 8 and on the left wing for us. There are arguments for all of them starting. We need to get the energy right between them.'
Tuchel stressed that players must accept difficult decisions and support their teammates. 'They need to understand that not all of them will start all of the time. They can play decisive roles when they finish matches. They can be upset with my decision, but they have to accept it and push their teammates. This is a tournament of hopefully nine matches, so everything is more important than individual minutes.'
Bellingham's Versatility
Tuchel acknowledged that Bellingham could also feature in other positions. 'There is also a chance that Jude plays in another position. He can play as a No. 8 for sure, and Morgan can play on the wings. But we also have top players in those positions. We will not go through the tournament with 10 players.'
England fans will be eager to see which lineup Tuchel chooses for the crucial Group opener against Croatia. With Bellingham, Rogers, and Eze all vying for a starting spot, the competition promises to be fierce.
