Thomas Tuchel has heaped praise on Jude Bellingham, crediting the Real Madrid star's willingness to subordinate his individual game to England's collective system as a key reason behind his outstanding form at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Bellingham has claimed the man-of-the-match award in two of England's three group-stage outings, scoring twice and adding an assist to be directly involved in 50 per cent of England's six goals at the tournament so far.

Patterns over freestyle

Tuchel has long urged Bellingham to reshape the free-roaming role he plays at Real Madrid into something more structured when he pulls on the England shirt. The head coach believes that discipline is making Bellingham a more dangerous force, not a lesser one.

"We have to work in patterns and we have to work in units for the amount of attacking threat," Tuchel said. "If we all just play in freestyle no one knows what the other one is thinking. If we are in units I feel we get the understanding better and better, and Jude is a part of it — because it is not only about the pattern, it is about the quality in the pattern."

Defensive work rate sets him apart

Against Panama, Bellingham's contribution extended well beyond the attacking third. He won more tackles — four — and more duels — 11 — than any other player on the pitch, underlining his value as a complete midfielder in the tournament.

"I'm not sure if it's a reaction but it is what we want from him," Tuchel said. "He has been very positive from the first day in camp. He is fully into all the things from him as a team player, and he brings his individual quality to decide football games. That is what you see in World Cups now and what you see from other teams and other big players. He is a key player. And he buys into all the things that we demand of him as a team player. Well done until now. He needs to keep on going."

Kane, Bellingham, and beyond

Bellingham is one of only three England players to have found the net at this World Cup. Marcus Rashford has contributed one goal, while Harry Kane has three — making him England's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. Despite the apparent reliance on Kane and Bellingham, Tuchel is unconcerned.

"We want these guys in the key moment and show up," he said. "I am convinced that Nico O'Reilly almost did it against Ghana, Harry did it, Jude did it, and I'm sure Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Noni [Madueke] and Bukayo [Saka] will do it when the time is there, and we need that."