Thomas Tuchel has opened the door to using Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers together, and his answer was blunt. After England's 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica, he said Bellingham can play as a free-role No.9, which would let Rogers stay in the side rather than turn the No 10 spot into a straight either-or decision. The World Cup opener is on 2026-06-17 20:00:00+00.
How Tuchel sees the shape
Tuchel said: "It's easy. Jude can play as the No.9 almost like in a free role. He can drop into midfield, drop into half spaces, start more dribbling. Harry Kane then starts more assisting." He added that Ollie Watkins was good when he came on, Ivan Toney was good against New Zealand and trains at a high level.
The key detail is that Tuchel moved Bellingham further forward after taking Kane off on the hour mark against Costa Rica. That is the shape he is willing to explore, and it is the clearest sign that he does not see the Bellingham-Rogers question as a rigid one-man job.
Bellingham's recent form gives the idea some bite. He has scored 2 goals in his last 5 Real Madrid matches and produced 1 assist in that run, with a 7.46 average rating across those games. Rogers has been just as busy, with 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 5 matches and a 7.02 average rating.
England's squad mood matters too
Bellingham's comments about Euro 2024 make this more than a selection debate. He said: "At the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch. I don't feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons." He also said England were beaten by Spain in the final and pointed to expectation as part of the problem.
That matters because Tuchel has made a point of talking about connection and balance in the squad. Rogers backed that up by saying, "We are really aligned and it is really easy and seamless for anyone to fit in the group. Wherever you are from, wherever you play, ages - it doesn't matter in this group. It is a joy to be here." Bellingham and Rogers also grew up in the same area in the West Midlands and played junior football together, so this is not a cold competition in the usual sense.
The cleanest reading is that Tuchel is trying to keep the door open for both of them while England settle on the best attacking structure. Bellingham's role forward, Rogers' form, and Kane's ability to drop into a more creative lane give England options before the opener against Croatia. The decision is still there, but Tuchel has made it clear it does not have to be a zero-sum call.
FAQ
Can Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers play together for England?
Thomas Tuchel says they can. He said Bellingham can play as a free-role No.9, drop into midfield and half spaces, while Harry Kane starts more assisting. That gives England a way to keep Rogers in the side without making the No 10 choice a straight either-or call.
Why did Jude Bellingham talk about England's Euro 2024 camp?
Bellingham said England got some things wrong off the pitch and that the group did not connect as well as it could have. He tied that to the pressure around the tournament, where England reached the final but lost to Spain.
Is the England No 10 role already settled for the World Cup opener?
No. Tuchel's comments show there is still a tactical decision to make, even if he is open to using Bellingham and Rogers together. England's next fixture is on 2026-06-17 20:00:00+00, so the call is immediate.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →