Tuchel hints at Bellingham captaincy after Prague win

Thomas Tuchel said he had “a bad conscience” after England’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague, then pointed to Jude Bellingham as a possible permanent captain. Bellingham took the armband when he replaced Harry Kane 20 minutes from the end, and Tuchel said the move was a reward for a player he thinks enjoys being around the squad.

Bellingham's captaincy case

Tuchel did not go as far as naming Bellingham as England’s next long-term skipper, but he came close enough to make the point. “If you are the captain at the end of these matches, you can for sure be the permanent captain,” he said after the match. He added: “It’s a reward. It’s good. I think he loves to be with us at the moment. That’s what I feel.”

The manager also said Bellingham had “done it before” but not this season, which is why England did not try the armband switch earlier in the campaign. That fits with how little Bellingham has actually played for England in the Nations League this season. He has made 2 appearances and played 109 minutes, even though his 7.13 rating and 7.64 season rating for Real Madrid show he is still producing at a high level.

Tuchel's unease over Manchester City

Tuchel's other post-match line was about Manchester City, not England's captaincy. The Premier League confirmed a guilty verdict against City shortly before the Prague match, and Tuchel admitted he had not checked on Marc Guéhi, Elliot Anderson or Nico O'Reilly before kick-off.

“I did not actually because I am just focused on everything we have to deal with here and to prepare the team,” he said. England’s 2-0 win will matter most on the pitch, but Tuchel’s comments make clear that Bellingham’s leadership role is already being tested in public, and City’s off-field situation is still in the background for England’s next camp.