Tuchel backs Bellingham for long-term England captaincy
Jude Bellingham has been backed by Thomas Tuchel as a potential permanent England captain after taking the armband during the closing stages of the 2-0 Nations League win over the Czech Republic in Prague.
Why Bellingham’s role matters for England
| Detail | England update |
|---|---|
| Result | Czech Republic 0-2 England |
| Bellingham’s introduction | 71st minute |
| Outgoing captain | Harry Kane |
| Next fixture | Croatia away in Rijeka on Saturday |
The Real Madrid midfielder began on the substitutes’ bench after the physical demands of Saturday’s defeat to Spain. When he entered in the 71st minute, Bayern Munich forward Kane handed over the captain’s armband for the final period of a significant Group A3 match.
Tuchel said the decision reflected Bellingham’s standing within the squad and suggested there was no reason he could not take the role on a full-time basis in the future. The England manager said that a player trusted to captain the side at the end of a match was clearly capable of becoming the permanent skipper.
He also praised Bellingham’s response to being left out of the starting line-up, describing him as assured and willing to contribute despite beginning the evening on the bench. Tuchel viewed the armband as recognition of that attitude.
Bellingham had already led England’s senior team once before, wearing the armband in the World Cup warm-up win against Costa Rica in June. His latest captaincy appearance nevertheless came in different circumstances, with Tuchel managing the midfielder’s workload following a quick international turnaround.
Tuchel said he and Bellingham had discussed his involvement before the game. Both were keen for him to start again, but they concluded that around 30 minutes was the more sensible option because he had not faced such a rapid sequence of matches during the season. The manager stressed that the choice was physical rather than a reflection of Bellingham’s importance.
The 2-0 victory has been followed by a fresh concern, however, after Bellingham picked up a minor problem late in the match. England will assess him before travelling to Rijeka, where they face Croatia on Saturday.
Fitness question before Croatia trip
England need a result against Croatia to remain in contention for the remaining Nations League quarter-final place from Group A3. Spain are strongly placed to finish in the top two, making Bellingham’s availability an important issue for Tuchel ahead of the away fixture.
