Ten players with points to prove as England qualify for World Cup

It is unthinkable that Jude Bellingham will not be in the England squad at the World Cup, but does the Real Madrid star, arguably the biggest global name in Thomas Tuchel’s possession, still have something to prove to the manager?

Recent evidence on and off the field suggests so.

This all stems from Bellingham not being included in England’s final squad despite telling Tuchel he wanted to be included, the constant expression of team spirit and the excellence of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role.

There will now be one main point of interest in England’s next squad, which were effectively dead rubbers against Serbia and Albania: whether Bellingham is included.

If so, Bellingham will return to duty as Tuchel’s star system, special circumstances, have made it clear there is no automatic route back to the England squad.

And it will also come after it became clear that Tuchel’s England world does not revolve around Bellingham and how to make the most of his undoubted talent.

Bellingham isn’t exactly starting over with England – there’s still a good chance he’ll be in the squad for his first game at next summer’s World Cup – but he needs to prove to Tuchel that he can be part of the team spirit the Germans value and that he deserves his place in the squad.

The British star’s “Who else?” he famously asked. He scored a stunning extra-time goal in England’s last 16 win over Slovakia at Euro 2024, but he now knows there are others Tuchel wants to take into account.