Ten players have points to prove if England qualify for the World Cup

It is inconceivable that Jude Bellingham will not be part of England’s World Cup squad, but does the Real Madrid star, arguably the biggest international name available to Thomas Tuchel, still have something to prove to the head coach?

Recent evidence on and off the field suggests he does.

It all stems from Bellingham being left out of the latest England squad despite telling Tuchel he wanted to include him, to the ongoing narrative of team spirit and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers being featured in the No.10 role.

The next England side, who face Serbia and Albania, will have one major point of interest – whether or not Bellingham is included.

If so, Bellingham will return to duty after Tuchel informed him there is no star system, no special situations and no automatic route back to the England team.

It will also come after it was made clear that Tuchel’s English world does not revolve around Bellingham and how best to utilize his undoubted talent.

Bellingham hasn’t exactly started again for England – the odds remain he will be in the starting line-up for their first World Cup match next summer – but he will have to prove to Tuchel that he can be part of the team spirit that the Germans cherish, and that he deserves his place back in the team.

The famous English star said, “Who else?” When he scored a stunning overhead kick in stoppage time as England beat Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024, but he now knows there are other players Tuchel would like to consider.