Jude Bellingham ‘absolutely livid’ at Thomas Tuchel during England’s win vs Albania
England completed World Cup qualifying with a flawless record, and Jude Bellingham placed himself in the spotlight.
Thomas Tuchel’s men wrapped up the group stage with eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored, and zero conceded after Harry Kane’s second-half brace secured England’s 2-0 win over Albania.
It wasn’t the most convincing performance from the visitors, as John Stones was slammed by England fans after Tuchel deployed the Manchester City defender as a midfielder in possession.
Meanwhile, Stephen Warnock was blown away by Jude Bellingham’s pass, as a poor Eberechi Eze finish denied the 22-year-old an assist.
Bellingham returned to the starting lineup after missing out against Serbia, and the Real Madrid superstar caught the eye with one moment.
Jude Bellingham ‘livid’ at Thomas Tuchel after substitution
When everyone is fully fit, Tuchel is spoilt for choice in the number 10 position, as Cole Palmer, Eze, Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Phil Foden can all play there.
The German isn’t afraid of making big decisions, doing so when he left Bellingham out of his squad during the September international break.
But on Sunday, it was Tuchel’s decision to substitute the Real Madrid playmaker that left him ‘absolutely livid’, according to former Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock.
“Jude Bellingham is furious that he is coming off the pitch. He is looking at Thomas Tuchel to say, ‘Why? Why am I coming off?’ He is absolutely livid,” Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He is not happy, but he has done the right thing. He has walked off and shook the manager’s hand.”
Tuchel recently called out Djed Spence after the Tottenham full-back walked off the pitch without shaking the manager’s hand.
That is perhaps why Bellingham didn’t make the same mistake with Tuchel, as he knows how detrimental a petulant moment can be to his chances when the competition is so intense.
Tuchel’s decision to substitute Bellingham was justified
Bellingham is desperate to impress his manager and prove why he should be the starting number 10 at the 2026 World Cup.
But the decision to replace him with Rogers in the 84th minute was justified, as there was no point risking him in the dying embers when he was on a yellow card.
If the former Borussia Dortmund man did somehow get sent off for violent conduct, there’s a chance he would miss the start of England’s World Cup.
That possibility, and also the chance of him getting injured, means that bringing him off was the right decision, and Bellingham will probably realise that now.