Bellingham's 'rage and fire' raises questions for Tuchel

The 2026 World Cup is beginning to loom, not least for those fans willing to travel to North America and who this week found out the stratospheric costs of match tickets.

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For the players, the tension mounts, too. Will an injury cost them their place? Will they actually be selected for their national team squad?

In England, the name of Jude Bellingham hangs heavy over Thomas Tuchel's first year in charge of the national team. The German is not afraid of big decisions, judging by his club career, and Bellingham is a player that he, and predecessor Gareth Southgate, have never fully unlocked.

From the age of 16, when Bellingham was at Birmingham City, legendary status seemed assured. His hometown club even retired his No. 22 shirt when he departed for Borussia Dortmund. At 22, he already has 43 caps, and appeared certain to smash the record of Peter Shilton's haul of 125. And yet Tuchel did not select him for the latest England camp, even though he has been fit enough to play for Real Madrid.