Jamie Carragher believes the position of Jude Bellingham will be key to Thomas Tuchel being a success as England head coach – and has explained why Phil Foden should not be first choice under the new German boss.
Tuchel, who becomes the Three Lions’ third foreign coach after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, signed his contract on October 8 and will start work on January 1.
Carragher believes Tuchel, who will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, should build towards the future with his first team selection ahead of the March World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking on Monday Night FootballCarragher said: “The big question is whether Jude Bellingham is good enough to play as a central midfielder in a two and defend with Declan Rice.
“The reason I would play Bellingham as a No 8 is that when you’ve got the ball, as we see with most teams now, it morphs into a different formation.
“When England have the ball, (Cole) Palmer moves into the right-side No 10 with Bellingham alongside him as the left-side No 10, and then you have a front three of (Bukayo) Saka, (Anthony) Gordon and (Harry) Kane.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold then comes into midfield alongside Rice. It’s also why I would then play a centre-back and full-back in (Levi) Colwill as in possession, he can step in with his left foot but it then gives you that balance of a back three.
“It means that when you are in possession, England can have Bellingham where they want him – attacking the box, making runs in behind Kane.”
What about the rest of Carra’s team?
“Gareth Southgate’s mainstays were (Harry) Maguire, (John) Stones, Rice and Kane.
“For me, it was Kane’s team in the summer. This is not his team anymore, even though he has a great relationship (with them), the team has to be for the young attacking players.
“I would look at Trent (Alexander-Arnold), Stones, and I think (Jarrad) Branthwaite, the left foot and size and presence,” the former Liverpool defender added.
“I think Branthwaite, excellent on the left foot as well, gives you that balance, but also gives you that size and pressure that England had in Harry Maguire. You think how important set-pieces were in tournaments.
“Colwill again, Rice, Bellingham here a little bit deeper. Saka has to play on the right wing, he has to,” the pundit continued, before pointing at the No 10 position. “Cole Palmer for me has to play there.
“Not necessarily because he’s been amazing for England, hasn’t had too many choices. But when someone’s playing that well in club football, they have to play.
“And right now I’d play Gordon there (on the left). Because if Kane, for me, is still England’s best centre-forward, you need pace around him.”
Why no Foden?
Carragher made a big omission in leaving out Manchester City’s Phil Foden. On the defending PFA Player of the Year, he added: “You know how much I love Phil Foden.
“But Phil Foden still hasn’t done enough in an England shirt. And you’re getting to the stage now where he’s probably played 40-50 games for England.
“He’s still… Palmer’s not really had his chance yet, neither’s Anthony Gordon, certainly the chances that… (Foden has had).
“Kane has been dropping deep for the last five years, which is why I was surprised we didn’t see more of Gordon over the summer in the team, as he has the pace to make those runs in behind.
“Foden was coming inside and clogging the space. They needed pace around Kane. Moving forward, Kane has to either stay up front now or if he continues to drop deep, you need the pace in behind him.
“But by the time we get to 2026 at the World Cup, will someone have taken Kane’s place? It will be right on the edge. I think it will be debatable.”
