England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he will speak with Jude Bellingham following the midfielder’s high-profile omission from October’s international squad. Bellingham missed England’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales and 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory against Latvia, which secured the team’s spot at next summer’s tournament.
Tuchel stressed that leaving Bellingham out was not personal. “It is not a punishment, they have not done anything wrong,” he said, noting the decision was based on maintaining squad cohesion after a successful September international break. He acknowledged, however, that players not in the current camp must show “hunger and will” to return for future squads.
The England manager admitted he has not met with Bellingham since June, when Tuchel apologized for controversial comments about the player’s behavior. “I will speak to a lot of the guys…everyone is keen to come back,” Tuchel said. He also emphasized that any returning players must buy into the team’s unity, describing this as “non-negotiable.”
While Tuchel avoided singling out Bellingham, teammates have remarked on the noticeable absence of the 22-year-old’s influence in camp. With the World Cup looming, the focus now shifts to November’s squad selections for matches against Serbia and Albania, where England aim to maintain momentum and competitive spirit despite having already secured qualification.
On England’s World Cup prospects, Tuchel said: “Yes, it is a possibility. I cannot promise that we will win it, but we will get there with a strong team, a strong cohesion, and with the right spirit.”
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