Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave Jude Bellingham out of England’s squad for the matches against Wales and Latvia has sparked surprise and speculation. However, the England coach was adamant that there is no personal issue with the Real Madrid midfielder and that his absence is solely due to fitness concerns.

A squad with notable absences

The English midfielder underwent shoulder surgery over the summer, which sidelined him for Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso’s first four league matches. Since his return, Bellingham has played in four games and only made his first start in the Madrid derby against Atlético de Madrid.

Tuchel explained that while he values Bellingham’s talent, the player is still not fully up to speed: “Jude always deserves to be here, but he hasn’t yet completed a full match with Real Madrid. I spoke with him and he understood my decision.”

The German coach also left out Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, two players who have regained importance at their clubs. In contrast, he called up Marcus Rashford, who is enjoying a strong run of form at Barcelona, while Conor Gallagher of Atlético de Madrid was also excluded.

“There’s no problem with Jude”

During the press conference following the squad announcement, Tuchel dismissed any suggestion of a rift with the Madrid star. “No, there’s no problem with him, or with Phil Foden or Jack Grealish. We’re a better team with Jude, but we have to think ahead. If he or Cole Palmer were to get injured before the World Cup, we need to have alternatives.”

It is worth noting that in the past, the German coach had a minor clash with Bellingham after referencing a comment from the player’s mother about his character on the pitch. Tuchel clarified that the matter was resolved after he apologized and that it has not affected his relationship with the midfielder.

England, group leaders with eyes on the World Cup

England’s upcoming fixtures include a friendly against Wales and a qualifier against Latvia, with the team sitting comfortably on top of the group with 15 points from 15, holding a seven-point lead over Albania.

Meanwhile, Bellingham continues to earn recognition: this week he was voted England’s Player of the Month by the fans, succeeding Cole Palmer and beating out Declan Rice and Harry Kane in the poll. He is only the second player to receive the honor without playing for an English club since Owen Hargreaves did so in 2006 with Bayern Munich.

Bellingham’s absence has sparked debate, but Tuchel insists it is purely a situational decision. For now, England marches confidently toward the World Cup, trusting that their stars will be at full strength when it matters most.