How Bellingham became Tuchel's most important player

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: How Bellingham became Tuchel's most important playerImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jude Bellingham's tactical adaptability has become key to Thomas Tuchel's style of play with this England teamByUmir Irfan Football tactics correspondentPublished1 hour agoIn June 2024, Jude Bellingham scored a dramatic overhead kick in the 95th minute against Slovakia to rescue England's hopes at the Euros. In the heat of the moment, he celebrated by screaming into the jubilant crowd. "After England's 2-0 win against Panama, the 22 year-old's performance has a similar feel to it.

Tuchel has been firm in stating his system and approach will largely look the same throughout the tournament but on Saturday we saw subtle tweaks, with injuries in the squad. Bellingham was central to maximising this system, papering over some of the cracks in the meantime. It was a tale of two halves for Bellingham who was deployed in a more box-to-box role in Declan Rice’s absence.

The Details

In their first two games, England opted to build from the back with the two central defenders and Elliott Anderson in the centre of the pitch. Both full-backs took wider positions with Rice and Bellingham vacating the holding midfield areas for Harry Kane to drop in and join Anderson. This shape differed against Panama.

Jarell Quansah came in at right-back for the injured Reece James and was asked to slot into a back three in possession - alongside Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa. Nico O'Reilly kept his roaming left-back role. Instead of Kane dropping deep, Bellingham was tasked with supporting Anderson at the base of midfield and England's shape on the ball loosely flipped between a 3-2-5 and a 3-1-6 depending on how Bellingham read the game.

After the game, Tuchel confirmed his intentions, explaining that Bellingham "played as a 10 when we had the ball" and that he wanted "to have six players in the last line" - likely in an attempt to outnumber Panama's back five. Image caption, Here is England's shape against Panama. In the first half, Bellingham played a deeper role before taking up more attacking positions in the second half to England's benefit.

What Experts Say

Under Tuchel's leadership, England have a few guiding principles:Entice pressure before speeding up playLook to play vertical passes for runners in behindCounter-press hard as a collective when you lose the ballBuild-up primarily through the wide areas using triangles of the full-back, winger and attacking midfielderMaximise set-piecesMany of these principles are borrowed from the Premier League handbook of 2025-26. These were largely on show against Panama but this time England also looked to build-up play through the centre of the pitch too - with mixed results. It felt as if England were acknowledging that the wide players, that were so effective pre-tournament, were not enough in their current form.

Paired with the injury to James, England needed an extra dimension and Bellingham's tactical nous and versatility came in clutch.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.