Thomas Tuchel believes Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane cannot all start for England under his current system. The national coach made it clear that balance and structure come before star names.
Tuchel defines strict roles for his stars
Real Madrid’s Bellingham and Manchester City’s Foden both returned to the squad for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Tuchel explained that Bellingham competes with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the number 10 position. He added that he now sees Foden as “a mix between a number nine and a 10” rather than a winger.
When asked if Bellingham, Foden and Kane could all play together, Tuchel told TalkSport they could not under the current system. “They can play, but not with the structure we developed. It would break the balance that relies on specialist wingers,” he said.
Competition fierce behind Kane
England have played in a 4-3-3 formation under Tuchel, with wingers supporting striker Harry Kane. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is the first choice on the right, while either Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon or Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford starts on the left.
This setup leaves intense competition for the creative role behind Kane. A big name could even miss out on the World Cup squad. Tuchel listed Bellingham, Rogers and Foden among the main candidates, along with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who is recovering from a groin injury, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, who was left out of the latest squad. Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze is also a contender.
No room for five playmakers
Tuchel made it clear he will not take five number 10s to the World Cup. “I don’t see how this will help us,” he said. The coach stressed that leaving players out will not be about talent but about what serves the team best.
“We always do what’s best for winning,” Tuchel said. “We will keep clarity and balance, even if that means tough decisions. Every camp requires difficult choices, and that will not change for a tournament.”
Foden could move deeper
Tuchel noted that Foden already plays as a hybrid between an eight and a 10 for Manchester City. That could open a path for him to move into midfield for England in the coming months.
England’s path to the World Cup
England have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico with two matches to spare. They face Serbia at Wembley on Thursday before travelling to Albania on Sunday.
Rogers has impressed under Tuchel, starting five of the eight matches the coach has overseen. A minor hamstring issue could, however, give Bellingham the chance to start against Serbia.
