"It was a bit of an up and down [relationship] of course but we are in a good place," Thomas Tuchel said as he used his latest England squad announcement to talk openly about repairs, regrets and selections. He also apologised to Kobbie Mainoo in front of the whole squad and staff, then handed Jobe Bellingham his first senior England call-up.

Jude, Jobe and the apology to Mainoo

Tuchel did not hide the personal side of the call. "Sorry that I didn't pick you, you did nothing wrong, that is on me," he told Mainoo, after saying the midfielder had been hugely disappointed by the World Cup and that the omission had cost him some confidence.

The other half of the story was Jude Bellingham. Tuchel said he had spoken to Jude about his brother, adding that it had always been Jude's dream to play with Jobe for England. He also said, "Jude was always saying: "Watch him, watch him he's good, he can make it"."

Tuchel's praise for Jude was strong enough to make the current state of their relationship feel notable. "I love to be his coach. He's a top player, a very influential player and I think it goes both ways," he said. Jude has made 11 appearances for Real Madrid in 2026 and has 7 goal contributions, which fits the manager's view of him as a central England figure.

Jobe's first senior call-up

The selection itself is straightforward enough. Jobe has been called into the senior squad for the first time, with England due to face Croatia and Spain in next week's Nations League games. Thursday's Croatia game is at Wembley.

Tuchel said Jobe was "very kind and very polite" when he called with the news. He also pushed back against the idea that the brothers are the same player, saying they look similar in their movements but are "very different players" and that Jobe is more defensive.

The numbers support why this is more than a family gesture. Jobe has made 8 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund in 2026 and carries a 6.57 rating, decent enough for a first call-up but still a long way from being finished as a senior England player. Jobe's place in the squad also sits alongside England's 9 points from 4 Nations League matches, which has left Tuchel with room to pick on standards rather than panic.

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were not the headline here, but they remain part of the selection conversation. Tuchel said there had been glimpses of the Foden he wants, then added that England's numbers in a national shirt are not in proportion to his talent. He also said Palmer's omission was not personal. The strongest takeaway, though, is that Tuchel used this announcement to reset relationships as much as to name a squad.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →