England manager Thomas Tuchel says midfielder Jude Bellingham is hitting his “sweet spot” as the World Cup approaches. According to reports, Tuchel gave Bellingham the captain’s armband for the second half of England’s warm-up friendly against New Zealand on Saturday. The match itself is described as scrappy and ended 1-0, with Tuchel’s decision framed as part of England’s preparation for the tournament. The Independent and Belfast Telegraph both focus on Tuchel’s assessment of Bellingham’s form and the leadership role he was given during the game. While the outlets differ in the amount of detail provided, they converge on the central points: Tuchel comments positively on Bellingham’s current level, and he appoints Bellingham captain for part of the warm-up match. The reporting presents the comments as part of England’s build-up and does not add further detail on Bellingham’s specific tactical role or statistics beyond the captaincy and overall “sweet spot” assessment.