England head coach Thomas Tuchel has stated that Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Harry Kane cannot all start together under his current tactical system.
Bellingham and Foden, who play for Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively, have returned to the national squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Tuchel clarified that Bellingham is competing with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the attacking midfield role.
The German manager recently said that Foden is no longer viewed as a winger, describing him instead as “a mix between a number nine and a 10.” When asked if all three stars could feature simultaneously, Tuchel told TalkSport that it was not possible “if we keep the structure.”
He explained that maintaining the team’s balance requires natural wide players, adding: “They can, but not in the structure, not for the balance we developed, and not for the setup that relies on wingers — specialists in their positions.”
Tuchel firm on squad structure and roles
Since taking charge, Tuchel has implemented a 4-3-3 system built around wingers supporting captain Kane at center-forward. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka remains the preferred choice on the right flank, while Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford are options on the left.
This setup leaves intense competition for the attacking midfield role behind Kane, meaning a high-profile player may miss out on the World Cup squad. Tuchel identified Bellingham, Foden, Rogers, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer as contenders, with Palmer currently sidelined by a groin problem. Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, who was left out of the latest squad, and Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze are also in contention.
The manager ruled out taking an excess of creative players to the tournament, saying: “We will not take five number 10s to the World Cup. I don’t see how this will help us.” He emphasized that selection choices will be made strictly for tactical balance rather than individual merit.
Focus on team clarity ahead of World Cup
Tuchel stressed that difficult calls are unavoidable, stating that players omitted will not be excluded due to lack of quality but because of team structure. “We will always do what’s best for winning,” he said. “We will always do what’s best for balance, and we will try to keep the clarity, even if it means we have to take tough decisions.”
He also hinted that Foden’s long-term role could evolve, noting that the midfielder plays a hybrid position between an eight and a 10 for his club. Tuchel said that “maybe during the next months” Foden could be considered for a deeper midfield role.
England, who qualified early for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, face Serbia at Wembley on Thursday before travelling to Albania on Sunday. Rogers, who has featured in every match under Tuchel so far, could miss out due to a minor hamstring issue — potentially opening the door for Bellingham to start.
