‘I’m going to leave him on the bench’ – England backed to axe Jude Bellingham after clash
Thomas Tuchel could see fit to drop Jude Bellingham to the bench for the World Cup amid concerns around his attitude while playing for England.
That is according to former England international Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that he would be surprised if the Real Madrid star didn’t start for the Three Lions in the USA but could be axed due to his relationship with Thomas Tuchel.
Bellingham stropped as he was taken off against Albania on Sunday evening, despite England comfortably cruising to a 2-0 win in Tirana.
He was handed a first international start since June in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Adam Wharton, and did put in a fine showing to help his country to preserve their 100% win rate in the World Cup qualifiers.
The Madrid man’s attitude has once again created attention that the Three Lions’ camp do not need ahead of the 2026 tournament, though, with his position in the starting eleven in doubt as a result.
Bellingham is in direct competition with Morgan Rogers and Phil Foden
Bellingham had not started for the Three Lions since June due to injury and fitness concerns ruling him out of Tuchel’s squad in September and October.
The England manager admitted back in June that his mother thinks Bellingham’s on-pitch temperament can be “repulsive,” which he later apologised for.
Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers has staked a claim for the Madrid star’s place in the team in his absence, with one goal and assist each in four successive starts prior to Sunday’s game.
Phil Foden has also been recalled to the England squad after a while out due to a lack of form, and he was deployed as a false nine in their 2-0 win over Serbia last week, with Tuchel recently admitting that he thinks he “should have a central role” to play to the highest level he can.
Le Tissier thinks Bellingham will start but could be dropped for attitude reasons
Premier League legend Le Tissier has exclusively told Football Insider that he thinks the 22-year-old will be trusted to start at the World Cup, but his negative conduct could see Tuchel drop him to the bench in the States.
He said: “I think it’s quite unlikely that he won’t start, given how good he is, but he has competition for his place. There are some very good players who play in the same position as him.
“If they have a really good second half of the season, and he maybe doesn’t score as regularly for Real Madrid, then perhaps that attitude might be the little difference that Tuchel looks at and thinks, ‘you know what, there’s not a lot in between them.’
“It might just be that that tips the balance for him and he thinks, ‘I think I’m going to leave him on the bench.’ So it is a possibility.
“I think he’s a terrific player. I don’t think he’s got any weaknesses in his game, apart from perhaps the discipline side of things. But, yeah, I’d be surprised if he didn’t start the first game of the World Cup.”