England have not kicked a ball at the World Cup yet, but Thomas Tuchel has already sent out a clear set of shirt-number clues. Jude Bellingham has been handed the No 10 shirt for the squad submitted to FIFA, while Morgan Rogers is No 17. That does not confirm a starting XI, but it is the strongest early sign of where Tuchel may be leaning.

Why the No 10 shirt matters most

The No 10 is the part that stands out. Bellingham taking that number suggests he is ahead of Rogers for the central attacking role, even if the numbers stop short of naming a line-up. Bellingham's standing is also backed by his form at Real Madrid, where he has a 7.27 rating in La Liga across 28 appearances and a 7.2 Champions League rating. He has also scored in 3 of his last 5 Real Madrid matches.

Ollie Watkins called him "an all-round complete midfielder" who "always wants the ball," while David Davis said Bellingham was "a humble kid" and that people mistake his self-assurance for arrogance. That profile fits the shirt choice. It looks like Tuchel sees Bellingham as England's central reference point, with Rogers left to fight for ground rather than being handed it.

Rashford and O'Reilly also get useful clues

The other numbers tell their own story. Marcus Rashford has been given No 11, and Nico O'Reilly No 3. Rashford's 6.83 La Liga rating is solid rather than spectacular, but No 11 still suggests he is in the left-sided mix. O'Reilly's 6.88 Premier League rating points in the same direction for left-back.

England's squad numbers were announced before the team began training in the United States, with 26 players joining up in Florida. Reece James was also given No 24, the shirt he wears for Chelsea. The message from the list is obvious enough: Tuchel is already sorting his pecking order, and Bellingham sits at the sharp end of it.

If the No 10 holds through to tournament selection, the conversation around England's attacking midfield role will already have its answer before the first ball is kicked.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →