England stand no chance without Jude Bellingham
England manager Thomas Tuchel dropped a bombshell on Friday afternoon after it was confirmed Real Madrid superstar and Three Lions talisman Jude Bellingham had not made his squad
14:07, 03 Oct 2025Updated 14:13, 03 Oct 2025
Football loving writer who spends much of his life on motorways getting to games all over the country. Passionate about football, my job and the Mirror. The Premier League is the best in the world and always believe England has a chance.
Author of Arsene Wenger: The Inside Story of Arsenal Under Wenger.
View 3 ImagesJude Bellingham has been left out of England's latest squad(Image: Getty Images)
The decision to leave out Jude Bellingham is a defining moment for Thomas Tuchel.[1] And however you dress it up, leaving out your best player and a generational talent is the wrong choice.
Bellingham,[2] 22, is England's superstar, the talisman and the absolute star of last year's Euros. It is a huge mistake to leave him out.
It has also created a bigger issue than it need be. You are also alienating him. It's a seriously bad move.
Without him and his last gasp leveller against Slovakia, England[3] would have been going home at the last 16 stage rather than reach the final.
If England dare go to the World Cup next summer without Bellingham, then they stand no chance of winning the trophy.
Absolutely no chance.
Let's be clear... England have some brilliant players. Bukayo Saka.
Harry Kane is so prolific. Declan Rice. The rest are good players.
Very good players. But Bellingham elevates the team and the squad to another level.
Without him, England are in the next level of teams below the likes of Spain and Argentina. Contenders.
But not favourites.
Bellingham has only started one game for Real Madrid since he has been back from injury and a shoulder operation in the summer.[6] But do you really think Kane would be left out if he had played the same minutes for Bayern Munich? Of course not.
There should be special rules for special players and it is then up to the manager and his man-management to deal with it.
England boss Tuchel - understandably - insisted that he needed to stick with the squad that won so well in Serbia last month.
View 3 ImagesThomas Tuchel is sticking with the squad which performed so well in Serbia(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It was 5-0 away from home, Morgan Rogers was man of the match and it was a brilliant performance. They set the "standards" said Tuchel and that was the way round it. The others need to prove themselves and get back in.
But lurking in the background is that lingering feeling that there is an issue between manager and star player.
That comes back to the infamous "repulsive" quote and what Tuchel's mum makes of Bellingham's on-pitch behaviour.
Is there an issue? Has it been solved? I don't think we can know until Bellingham gets called up again and plays for Tuchel.
Until then, we will be left wondering.
View 3 ImagesQuestions surrounding the England manager's relationship with his best player will now continue(Image: Fantasista/Getty Images)
And until it gets dealt with, it will fester and get worse.
This notion that England are better off without Jude. That other players can step up. That narrative is naive, misguided and utterly ridiculous.
Article continues belowBellingham is England's best player - and you always pick your best.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.[7][8]
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more[9]
?49 ?35 Sky
Get the deal here[10]Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports[11] bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members ?336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
References
- ^ defining moment for Thomas Tuchel. (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Bellingham, (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ England (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ What Jude Bellingham told Thomas Tuchel in call after being dropped from England squad (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Thomas Tuchel stuns England fans with three controversial calls - 'It's time to go' (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ since he has been back from injury and a shoulder operation in the summer. (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Join our new WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Learn more (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Get the deal here (www.awin1.com)
- ^ Essential TV and Sky Sports (www.awin1.com)