Thomas Tuchel deployed Jude Bellingham as a roaming No. 9 during England's Costa Rica friendly, signaling a fundamental tactical shift for the World Cup. By omitting Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Morgan Gibbs-White from his 26-man squad, Tuchel eliminated all three of England's elite creative options. It is not cowardice. It is clarity: he is building a team around pressing and athleticism, not playmaking depth.

Tuchel's conviction: why the playmakers had to go

Joe Cole, speaking to football365.com, captured the essence of Tuchel's decision: "What I'm really happy with with Thomas Tuchel is that he's picked his team, he's not bent for the media, he's not done anything like that, he's picked his team. And he's stuck to his guns. He could have quite easily picked Cole Palmer, Foden, or Morgan Gibbs-White, and it would have been less of a discussion."

The omission of Palmer, Foden, and Gibbs-White is not a rejection of their talent. It is a rejection of a system. For years, England has built around creative No. 10s, playmakers who excel in ball retention and combination play. Tuchel's omission of all three signals he is moving away from that approach entirely.

Instead, England will prioritize athleticism, pressing, and direct transitions. That requires different skill sets: positioning, work-rate, and direct passing over creative combination play. Kane, still England's first choice at 30 years old, will adapt to this new context. Cole endorsed Tuchel's boldness: "What I like about Thomas is, he is a winner. It seems like he's got a tune out of the team already, he's pushing them in a nice way, in the sense that, they know who's boss, put it that way, which is a good thing. But he's built a harmonious squad."

Bellingham's flexible role

Bellingham's positioning in this system is the key tactical innovation. Tuchel himself explained the concept to express.co.uk: "Jude can play as the number nine almost like in a free role, come into midfield, drop into half spaces, start more dribbling, Harry then starts more assisting."

It is a mirror image of traditional No. 10 deployment. Instead of a playmaker dropping deep, the striker drifts high and wide, creating tempo and space through movement. Bellingham has the athleticism for this. He also has the personality. "Jude has the personality to score, to be decisive and to arrive in the box so it is an option to play with him and Morgan Rogers. I wanted to see that for a few minutes at least," Tuchel said.

His recent Real Madrid form supports the experiment. Across five La Liga appearances, he averaged a 7.3 rating (ranging 6.3–7.7) and scored 2 goals with 1 assist. The numbers are modest against La Liga opposition, but they show he is arriving in dangerous areas. The fact he is positioning himself in the box, even if his match ratings fluctuate, is what Tuchel needs for a roaming No. 9.

England beat New Zealand 1-0 and Costa Rica 3-0 in World Cup warm-up friendlies, with Bellingham featured prominently in the Costa Rica victory. Harry Kane, meanwhile, scored 6 goals in his last two appearances (3 in each), with ratings of 10 and 9.3. Kane remains the first choice. But at 30, rotation is realistic. Bellingham's flexibility allows Tuchel to manage his workload without sacrificing tactical shape.

Former England international Kyle Walker sees the potential. "For me Jude just has the edge at the moment and that's no detriment to Morgan. He really put in the work and it speaks volumes for him that he's now competing with Jude for an England starting place at this World Cup."

The World Cup will reveal whether Tuchel's approach works. His willingness to omit three elite creative talents for a new system suggests he is committed to testing this approach when it matters most.

FAQ

Will Jude Bellingham play as a striker at the World Cup?

Bellingham is being trialed as a roaming No. 9 in friendlies, but Harry Kane remains England's first-choice striker. Tuchel is using Bellingham as a flexible alternative who can drop into midfield and create through positioning, not playmaking. It is a tactical option, not a permanent shift.

Why did Tuchel omit Cole Palmer and Phil Foden?

Tuchel omitted Palmer, Foden, and Gibbs-White because he is shifting England toward athleticism and pressing. The decision was tactical, not punitive. His willingness to omit three elite playmakers to pursue a new system signals commitment to testing this approach at the World Cup.

Does Bellingham's La Liga form support his No. 9 experiment?

Bellingham averaged 7.3 in five recent La Liga appearances with 2 goals and 1 assist, showing he is positioning himself in dangerous areas. The rating range (6.3–7.7) reflects inconsistency, but Tuchel values his flexibility—his ability to drift into midfield and drive the attack through movement.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →