The Jude Bellingham England squad omission headlines the latest controversy around the Three Lions setup. The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was left out by Thomas Tuchel for England’s upcoming friendly against Wales and World Cup qualifier against Latvia – a decision that has raised plenty of eyebrows.
Bellingham, who recently returned from injury, was expected to feature after regaining fitness. Yet Tuchel’s decision to exclude him – along with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish – has left many fans questioning the logic behind the 53-year-old German manager’s decision.
Jude Bellingham England Squad Omission: A Surprising Decision Despite His Recent Form
While Bellingham endured a mixed 2024/25 season, his Jude Bellingham Real Madrid form was far from poor. The midfielder scored 15 goals in 58 appearances, following an exceptional 2023/24 campaign where he netted 23 goals and helped Los Blancos win both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
That 2023/24 season even earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, and though he didn’t win, he established himself among Europe’s elite.
The 2024/25 season was not as rewarding for him, as Real failed to win any titles and Bellingham scored only 15 goals in 58 matches for the Spanish giants. It was a pretty decent season for him, but he was missing the magic of the previous season, obviously.
His slight dip in output last season hardly seems enough to justify such a drastic move from Tuchel.
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England’s Midfield Without Bellingham
Bellingham has featured in 44 international appearances for England, having scored six goals. Two of those goals came in the 2024 Euros, and Bellingham was one of England’s best players in the tournament that saw them finish as the runners-up.
However, since then, he has scored only once for the Three Lions, which was in a defeat to Greece in the UEFA Nations League last year.
The downward spiral in the form of Bellingham and Foden has been almost coincidental. Foden also had a forgettable 2024/25 season, finishing it without a trophy for Manchester City.
With Eberechi Eze impressing with his recent performances, England now prefer to have a new No. 10 in their set-up.
Can Bellingham Reclaim His Place?
Despite the current Jude Bellingham England squad omission, it’s almost certain the midfielder will feature in England’s plans for the 2026 World Cup. Still just 22, Bellingham has the talent to become one of the cornerstones of Tuchel’s side – provided he rediscovers the spark that made him unstoppable at Real Madrid.
With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric having left the club, Bellingham now carries extra responsibility at club level. Jude Bellingham Real Madrid form this season could very well determine how quickly he returns to the national setup.
Consistency remains his biggest challenge – but if anyone can silence the doubters and turn this setback into motivation, it’s Jude Bellingham.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date: 04.10.2025