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Jude Bellingham facing the first serious questions of his career

Jude Bellingham facing the first serious questions of his career

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England will take on Wales and Latvia without Jude Bellingham after the 22-year-old’s omission by Thomas Tuchel.

By Graham Ruthven

Jude Bellingham has watched more football from the sidelines than he would have liked this season and he’ll have to watch some more as England face Wales and Latvia. The midfielder’s omission from Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad raised some eyebrows, but reflected how for the first time in his career Bellingham is facing questions.

Tuchel’s decision not to call up Bellingham could simply be attributable to the 22-year-old’s delayed start to the season through injury. Having undergone shoulder surgery in July, Bellingham has started just one game for Real Madrid this term. That one start came in the 5-2 derby demolition against Atlético Madrid when the midfielder looked off the pace.

Bellingham in LaLiga this season

“He is a special player, and for special players there can always be special rules,” said Tuchel. “Jude always deserves to be here. There is also the situation that he has not quite gathered his full rhythm again at Real Madrid – he has not finished a full match. He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call.”

One wonders, however, if Tuchel is using this as an excuse to look at other options ahead of the 2026 World Cup. While Bellingham was undeniably impactful at Euro 2024 – England wouldn’t have made a run to the final without him – he looks to be an awkward fit for The Three Lions under their new manager.

Similar could be said of Bellingham as a Real Madrid player. The arrival of Xabi Alonso has changed the landscape at the Santiago Bernabéu with Los Blancos going through a tactical transition. That transition has so far taken place without Bellingham who is now behind the curve.

Arda Güler has been most commonly used as the number 10 in Alonso’s team this season. The Turkish international has been transformed under the new manager who sees Güler as a central creator rather than a wide difference-maker, as had been the case under Carlo Ancelotti.

With Güler as Real Madrid’s new number 10, Bellingham will have to adapt his game to become a two-way midfielder as part of Alonso’s double pivot. This is where the 22-year-old might lack the defensive instincts for the role, especially when compared to Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde.

There’s stiff competition in Tuchel’s England squad too. Declan Rice is a more accomplished two-way midfielder than Bellingham while Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are more nimble as natural creators further up the pitch, particularly in matches where England have most of the ball.

For England and Real Madrid, Bellingham previously produced his best form when he had the freedom to get forward from midfield as a box-crashing threat. There were times for Real Madrid when he essentially operated as a de facto centre forward following Karim Benzema’s departure. Bellingham helped bridge the gap.

He had a similar role for Gareth Southgate’s England. Indeed, Bellingham’s desire and willingness to get forward frequently offered a different dimension in games The Three Lions were otherwise lacking in an attacking sense. At the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, Bellingham was integral.

Now, though, Tuchel is remoulding the national team and Bellingham’s role will surely change. If the idea is to accommodate two of Eze, Foden and Palmer in the forward line, Rice might require someone like Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton alongside him to anchor things in central midfield.

Bellingham could add defensive fibre to his game to become a midfield anchor, but that would rob him of the attacking verve that makes him such a special talent. The 22-year-old might be squeezed out by England and Real Madrid who both want to become more modern and proactive in their respective approaches.

The best players find a way to make themselves useful. It was only a couple of seasons ago that Bellingham was widely considered one of the best players in the world. He was a Ballon d’Or contender. Bellingham’s future for club and country is bright even if he has to make a few adjustments.

To date, Bellingham’s career has been on a solid and sustained upward trajectory. From Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, he made every step with ease. There was a fairytale element to his career, as exemplified by how he won his first Champions League title against his former club at his national stadium.

It’s possible that Bellingham’s upward trajectory will continue with World Cup glory next summer. For the time being, though, he must prove himself all over again. He won’t be able to do that against Wales and Latvia, but English football’s golden boy must somehow find a way to make his game shine again.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every World Cup qualifier on FotMob in the build up to the 2026 finals – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jude Bellingham facing the first serious questions of his career

England will take on Wales and Latvia without Jude Bellingham after the 22-year-old’s omission by Thomas Tuchel.

By Graham Ruthven

Jude Bellingham has watched more football from the sidelines than he would have liked this season and he’ll have to watch some more as England face Wales and Latvia. The midfielder’s omission from Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad raised some eyebrows, but reflected how for the first time in his career Bellingham is facing questions.

Tuchel’s decision not to call up Bellingham could simply be attributable to the 22-year-old’s delayed start to the season through injury. Having undergone shoulder surgery in July, Bellingham has started just one game for Real Madrid this term. That one start came in the 5-2 derby demolition against Atlético Madrid when the midfielder looked off the pace.

Bellingham in LaLiga this season

“He is a special player, and for special players there can always be special rules,” said Tuchel. “Jude always deserves to be here. There is also the situation that he has not quite gathered his full rhythm again at Real Madrid – he has not finished a full match. He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call.”

One wonders, however, if Tuchel is using this as an excuse to look at other options ahead of the 2026 World Cup. While Bellingham was undeniably impactful at Euro 2024 – England wouldn’t have made a run to the final without him – he looks to be an awkward fit for The Three Lions under their new manager.

Similar could be said of Bellingham as a Real Madrid player. The arrival of Xabi Alonso has changed the landscape at the Santiago Bernabéu with Los Blancos going through a tactical transition. That transition has so far taken place without Bellingham who is now behind the curve.

Arda Güler has been most commonly used as the number 10 in Alonso’s team this season. The Turkish international has been transformed under the new manager who sees Güler as a central creator rather than a wide difference-maker, as had been the case under Carlo Ancelotti.

With Güler as Real Madrid’s new number 10, Bellingham will have to adapt his game to become a two-way midfielder as part of Alonso’s double pivot. This is where the 22-year-old might lack the defensive instincts for the role, especially when compared to Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde.

There’s stiff competition in Tuchel’s England squad too. Declan Rice is a more accomplished two-way midfielder than Bellingham while Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are more nimble as natural creators further up the pitch, particularly in matches where England have most of the ball.

For England and Real Madrid, Bellingham previously produced his best form when he had the freedom to get forward from midfield as a box-crashing threat. There were times for Real Madrid when he essentially operated as a de facto centre forward following Karim Benzema’s departure. Bellingham helped bridge the gap.

He had a similar role for Gareth Southgate’s England. Indeed, Bellingham’s desire and willingness to get forward frequently offered a different dimension in games The Three Lions were otherwise lacking in an attacking sense. At the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, Bellingham was integral.

Now, though, Tuchel is remoulding the national team and Bellingham’s role will surely change. If the idea is to accommodate two of Eze, Foden and Palmer in the forward line, Rice might require someone like Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton alongside him to anchor things in central midfield.

Bellingham could add defensive fibre to his game to become a midfield anchor, but that would rob him of the attacking verve that makes him such a special talent. The 22-year-old might be squeezed out by England and Real Madrid who both want to become more modern and proactive in their respective approaches.

The best players find a way to make themselves useful. It was only a couple of seasons ago that Bellingham was widely considered one of the best players in the world. He was a Ballon d’Or contender. Bellingham’s future for club and country is bright even if he has to make a few adjustments.

To date, Bellingham’s career has been on a solid and sustained upward trajectory. From Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, he made every step with ease. There was a fairytale element to his career, as exemplified by how he won his first Champions League title against his former club at his national stadium.

It’s possible that Bellingham’s upward trajectory will continue with World Cup glory next summer. For the time being, though, he must prove himself all over again. He won’t be able to do that against Wales and Latvia, but English football’s golden boy must somehow find a way to make his game shine again.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every World Cup qualifier on FotMob in the build up to the 2026 finals – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.