Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Monday, November 17, 2025, 11:54 / Updated Monday, November 17, 2025 11:56
The midfielder of Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham, annoyed the selector of England, Thomas Tuchel, at the end of the match with Albania (2-0).
The score was already 2-0 to England and there were only 6 minutes of regulation time left when Tuchel decided to replace Jude Bellingham. Although he had been warned with a “yellow” and in case of a new offense he could even see “red”, risking being suspended in Albion's first match of the 2026 World Cup, the midfielder did not understand the caution of the selector and appeared disturbed by the change.
Thomas Tuchel: “Decisions are made and as a player you have to accept them”
The English media were quick to sanction his slip-up and suggested he had picked up the slack from Vinicius jr, his Real Madrid team-mate. In El Clasico with FC Barcelona (2-1), the Brazilian protested vehemently, in front of an entire stadium, when coach Xabi Alonso decided to replace him.
Then he went to the locker room and came back at the end to celebrate the white team's victory with his teammates. And when the issue of apologies was raised, he mentioned everyone, teammates, supporters, management, but not at all Xabi.
However, Bellingham did not go well with Thomas Tuchel. After the final whistle, the German technician promptly fined his gesture. “I saw that Jude Bellingham was not happy when he left the field. I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but I stand by what I said before: behavior is key and you must respect teammates entering the field. Decisions are made and as a player you have to accept them“, said the England coach.
Thomas Tuchel warns: “The cards will be made again at the World Cup”
Jude Bellingham was named the MVP of the match in Tirana, even though Harry Kane scored both goals in the victory for England, who finished the qualifiers with eight straight wins from eight and an excellent goal difference: 22-0!
However, Tuchel warned several senators, led by Bellingham and Kane, the current leaders of the team, that no one is guaranteed the starting place at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada: “Then the cards will be drawn again. Everyone must be “on the hook”.
