Jude Bellingham: Unique talent key to England's World Cup dreams
Jude Bellingham wants to regain his place as England's key player in the World Cup, after recent difficulties, and has the trust of coach Thomas Tuchel and his teammates.
When Jude Bellingham fired the famous "who else?" addressed England fans after saving the team from a humiliating elimination with an acrobatic shot against Slovakia at Euro 2024, no one dared to disagree. His spectacular move, with the clock showing 94 minutes and 34 seconds, became an iconic moment and secured a 2-1 victory after extra time in the round of 16. Although England faced further disappointment when they lost to Spain in the final in Berlin, Bellingham's status as the national team's golden boy seemed assured. However, two years later at the World Cup, Bellingham's star didn't exactly fall, but definitely faded.
Bellingham will face Croatia in England's World Cup opener in Dallas on Wednesday, determined to get his international career back on track after winning the race for the number 10 role with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who plays behind captain Harry Kane. After rigorous treatment from coach Thomas Tuchel, Bellingham's preparation for the World Cup looks like that of a player in search of glory, a special talent that could be fundamental in the quest for the world title.
Tuchel's refusal to operate an all-star system, coupled with Rogers' rise, has made Bellingham's position a topic of intense debate, something unthinkable after Euro 2024. Thus, the phrase "who else?" should be reverted to Bellingham - the "who else?" in his world he became Rogers' childhood friend and a focused technician who doesn't care about reputations or status. The relationship between player and coach has at times appeared fragile, with Tuchel apologizing after revealing that his mother found Bellingham's on-pitch behavior "repulsive" following the friendly defeat against Senegal last June.
Tuchel, whose brutal honesty could be debunked, admitted to using the word "unintentionally" - but then caused further uproar by leaving Bellingham out of the squad for the friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia last October, even though the Real Madrid ace wanted to be called up after recovering from shoulder surgery. Bellingham's England career, cut short by shoulder and thigh injuries and a lack of call-ups, is reflected in the statistic that he has only started nine of the 20 games played since the Euro 2024 final.
Arriving in the United States after a mixed season at Real Madrid, Bellingham looked fit, motivated and - significantly - integrated into Tuchel's squad as the team looks to end a drought that stretches back to the 1966 World Cup. He was seen in the England dressing room presenting Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoah with his first call-up after the debut against New Zealand in Tampa, a sign of maturity even though he is just 22 years old.
Are the cards aligning for a player who mentor Jordan Henderson - who welcomed Bellingham when he joined the squad in 2020 - believes will give Tuchel's side the vital "X-factor" at the World Cup? Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who will be an analyst for BBC Radio Five Live during the games, said: "From what we've seen here and what we've heard from the squad and team-mates, England are getting Jude back.Bellingham before the World Cup. He seems fitter and more focused than he has been in a long time.
"I would pick him to start with. 100%. Morgan Rogers doesn't deserve to lose his place, but Bellingham is a big-game player. I'm not saying Rogers isn't, but Bellingham has World Cup and Euro experience, as well as playing in big tournaments for Real Madrid. He won the Champions League." Robinson added: "He has something that others don't have. If his attitude and application is right, you get him on the field. If you can keep him motivated, fit and functioning from day one, that will be a crucial factor in this tournament for England.
"Tuchel made important decisions with him, and the relationship between Jude and the manager was called into question, but look at Bellingham's experience. He has 37 competitive call-ups. That counts for a lot in a major tournament." Bellingham currently has 48 caps in total and is about to participate in his third major tournament. Tuchel's approach with Bellingham may have succeeded in seeing this naturally talented player, with a fierce competitive spirit, peak at the right time. "Thomas Tuchel was brought in to do a job," says Robinson. "I know he extended his contract, but his mission is to win the World Cup, however he does it. And he clearly doesn't care who he upsets along the way.
"Tuchel is not picking players because they have a certain name or reputation. Bellingham had to earn his place. Whether that was to give him a wake-up call or a push we don't know, but in the friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica we saw the Bellingham of old. And Bellingham knows he needs to produce because Tuchel has already proven he is more than willing to deploy Rogers in the role behind captain Harry Kane if his performance falters. Robinson said: "You always have something to prove when you are a player of that caliber. Natural talent comes easily. Not hard work. Combining the two makes the best players.
"England are a much better and stronger team with Bellingham, but he knows very well that he is not irreplaceable. Harry Kane is irreplaceable, but Bellingham is not, because there is Morgan Rogers. "It would be a setback for England if he doesn't play - but he is not irreplaceable." Team-mate Henderson is in no doubt about the impact Bellingham can have, saying: "He gives us something really special. An 'X-factor'. He had great moments. He is a player of great games.
"Jude is a huge player for us. Anyone in the group will tell you how good of a teammate he is." England's cause may even be helped by the fact that Bellingham believes Tuchel now has the right formula, after telling the Football Association's Lions' Den program: "At the Euros [in 2024] we made some mistakes off the field. I don't feel the group gelled as well as it could for a number of reasons. Expectation was part of that - we did a good job in 2018 and at the World Cup in Qatar, and when we got to that tournament we were seen as one of the two or three teams that should We weren't playing particularly well, so even when we were winning, you didn't feel the happiness you should have." Bellingham is now back playing with his usual momentum but also with a smile on his face - and that is what England and Tuchel want when the World Cup campaign begins in Dallas.