Jude Bellingham’s recent England struggles have been well documented and the Real Madrid star has suffered another setback with the national team after being benched for Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has not always seen eye-to-eye with the midfielder since the German’s appointment at the beginning of the calendar year, with Bellingham having played just four times for the Three Lions in 2025.
Tuchel wrote headlines after labelling Bellingham’s on-field behaviour as “repulsive” back in June, later apologising and insisting he used the word in error in a second language. The 22-year-old missed the September international break after undergoing shoulder surgery and was then omitted for the October break due to a lack of match fitness.
November marks his return to the squad, but the Madrid dynamo is among the substitutes for the clash with Serbia despite England having already qualified for next summer’s World Cup.
