England Coach Discusses Bellingham’s Absence from World Cup Qualifiers
Thomas Tuchel has emphasized that Jude Bellingham remains a vital part of the England team, even though he did not participate in the recent World Cup qualification matches.
Bellingham was missing from Tuchel’s squad during a friendly victory over Wales and during their decisive 5-0 win against Latvia. This performance solidified England’s place in the upcoming World Cup slated for next summer in North America.
Recovering from shoulder surgery, the Real Madrid midfielder had not completed a full match when Tuchel announced his lineup, yet his absence became a significant point of discussion.
Tuchel stated that he plans to reach out to Bellingham ahead of the matches against Serbia and Albania in November, contemplating a potential return to the squad. “He’s an important player. I will communicate with various players, including those who missed the lineup,” he remarked.
The head coach mentioned, “No one has done anything wrong. It’s not about punishment. It’s essential to maintain contact with everyone because we need them to feel eager to return.” He further emphasized the need to keep the spirits high among both included and absent players.
Tuchel’s remarks surrounding Bellingham’s omission gained additional attention after he mistakenly claimed in an interview that Bellingham’s mother found him “repulsive,” leading to an apology from the coach. He reassured fans that there are no issues between them, affirming that Bellingham would adapt to his strategies upon a potential comeback.
Tuchel also mentioned other notable absentees such as Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jack Grealish, highlighting his confidence in the team’s depth. “If we invite them back, I trust they will embrace the opportunity. We have many talented players ready to step up,” he added, acknowledging injuries to Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, and Cole Palmer as further reasons for this robust competition within the squad.
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