Thomas Tuchel reiterated that “behaviour is key” as he confirmed he would review Jude Bellingham’s visible frustration after being substituted during England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Albania.
Bellingham, making his first England start since June, was taken off in the 84th minute for Morgan Rogers. The Real Madrid star, already on a yellow card, lifted his arms in clear protest, signaling he did not want to leave the pitch.
Tuchel previously warned the squad about avoiding unnecessary red cards, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent dismissal ruled him out of Portugal’s first two World Cup matches. Another booking would have also forced Bellingham to miss the opening game of the tournament.
“Decisions are made and you have to accept it as a player,” Tuchel said, stressing the importance of respecting teammates who step in.
He added that Rogers himself was disappointed not to start, especially after heavy minutes with his club and a strong showing against Serbia.
Bellingham’s ‘Furious’ Response Under Review
Bellingham had been playing well in both attack and defense and had just celebrated Harry Kane’s second goal before he saw his number go up for substitution. Former England defender Stephen Warnock described the 21-year-old’s reaction as “furious”.
Tuchel acknowledged the frustration but said he would analyze the situation calmly:
“My words stand — we are about standards, commitment, and respect. We won’t change decisions because someone waves their arms.”
Despite earlier criticism of Bellingham’s on-field conduct—comments Tuchel later apologized for—the midfielder still applauded the fans and shook his manager’s hand as he walked off. Phil Foden and Dan Burn appeared to advise Bellingham not to react emotionally.
Warnock added that winning a World Cup requires players to accept reduced roles at times: a lesson Bellingham “will have to take on the chin.”
Former Teammates Say Tuchel Was Right
Ex-England defender Conor Coady, who played with Bellingham at the 2022 World Cup, said the midfielder will eventually admit Tuchel made the correct call.
Bellingham, Coady explained, feels he is “playing catch-up” after missing the previous camp and wants to prove himself ahead of Morgan Rogers, who has been in strong form.
He noted that Bellingham lost some unusually simple balls during the match, perhaps trying too hard to show his importance.
Also Read: Key Questions Tuchel Must Solve Before the World Cup