England manager Thomas Tuchel publicly praises midfielder Jude Bellingham after his performances in the early stages of the World Cup. In England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, Bellingham starts in a more advanced “No 10” role and contributes directly in attack, scoring one goal in the match. Multiple outlets describe the impact of that display on Tuchel’s confidence in using Bellingham as a key part of his tactical plan.
Ahead of England’s next game against Ghana, Tuchel also highlights Bellingham’s role and the way his attacking threat fits into the team’s approach, calling him to be in a “sweet spot” as part of England’s setup. Separate coverage points to Bellingham’s influence in England’s later match versus Panama, where he is credited with taking over in the second half, scoring and providing an assist in a 2-0 victory. Several articles note that while his relationship with Tuchel was at times uneasy, these match contributions help reinforce Bellingham’s status as central to England’s World Cup ambitions, including their progression toward the knockout stages.
