England's second-half transformation: Bellingham saves Tuchel

Written by Han Yixi In front of 80,633 spectators at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, England underwent a complete transformation. Fortunately, the outcome was not bad—the Three Lions defeated Panama 2-0, securing top spot in the group with ease. However, the process of their three group stage matches did not go as smoothly as outsiders had anticipated.

The English players stepped onto the pitch with the task of securing first place in their group. Before the match, they were tied with Ghana on four points, but held a one-goal advantage in goal difference. Winning the group meant they would face a third-place team in the round of 16 and could continue playing in the United States. More importantly, it would place them in a relatively easier half of the knockout bracket: a round of 16 match against the winner of Mexico vs. Ecuador, and if they progressed further, they might not encounter a traditional powerhouse until the quarterfinals, where Brazil would be waiting. Meanwhile, the only other traditional giant in that half was Argentina.

On the other hand, if they finished second in the group, they would have to travel to Toronto, Canada, to face the second-place team from Group K in the first knockout round. If they advanced to the round of 16, they would then have to move to Mexico, with a potential quarterfinal opponent being Spain. The advantages and disadvantages of the two paths were clear.

Tuchel, who had made two starting lineup changes in the previous match against Ghana, this time made five alterations. Right-back Reece James was forced to sit out due to an injury sustained in the last game, so Tuchel deployed Bayer Leverkusen center-back Jarell Quansah, who had occasionally played right-back during his time at Liverpool. O'Riley replaced Spence at left-back, fully fit winger Bukayo Saka took over from his club teammate Noni Madueke, and Marcus Rashford started in place of Anthony Gordon.

An even more significant adjustment came at defensive midfield. Declan Rice, carrying a minor injury, was finally taken off the pitch. Instead of replacing him directly with Kobbie Mainoo or Jordan Henderson, Tuchel moved Jude Bellingham deeper to partner Anderson, while using Morgan Rogers, who has impressed at Aston Villa this season, as the attacking midfielder.

No matter how many changes were made to the starting eleven, England's lineup still boasted a total market value of €740 million, 33 times that of their opponents (€29.1 million). However, throughout the first half, England's performance was so lackluster that it seemed reminiscent of the Southgate era. Despite having 72.1% possession and creating nine shots, they barely produced any clear-cut chances, with an expected goals (xG) of just 0.49. In contrast, Panama, who had narrowly lost their first two matches 1-0, showed the fans a completely different face and tactical level compared to eight years ago. They were not flustered at all by England's high press and even managed to slice through England's midfield line multiple times with teamwork, reaching the edge of the Three Lions' penalty area. Their three shots included two on target, matching England's numbers.

Bellingham, deployed as a defensive midfielder, could not replicate Rice's contribution to the backline. Anderson had to cover a lot of ground, and while he wasn't exactly scrambling, he was far from comfortable. Captain Harry Kane, constantly surrounded and tackled by opponents, managed only 10 touches throughout the entire first half—fewer than his own goalkeeper Pickford (18 touches) and even fewer than Panama's striker Thomas Rodriguez. Kane, who had equaled Gary Lineker's record for England's all-time World Cup goals with a brace against Croatia in the opening game, registered zeros in all key stats. He had zero shots in the first half, the first time in his last seven World Cup matches that he failed to attempt a shot, dating back to the 2022 World Cup opener against Iran.

Rashford's early shot from distance in the 8th minute and a free kick that narrowly missed before halftime were the closest England came to scoring in the first half. As a result, the Three Lions had drawn their first halves in all three group stage matches of this World Cup—a feat they had only managed once in their previous ten tournaments, back in 2014. On the sidelines, Tuchel shook his head repeatedly, his disappointment written all over his face.

Fortunately, after the halftime break, England finally rediscovered some form, noticeably increasing the tempo of the game. Panama's players, who were already outmatched in quality, began to tire and showed signs of fatigue due to declining physical condition and a lack of depth on the bench. The Three Lions gradually created more opportunities. Bellingham, who had struggled in the holding midfield role, simply handed over defensive duties to Anderson, allowing Anderson to shoulder the defensive responsibility. Bellingham then pushed forward more often, making runs and dribbles, quickly finding a more familiar rhythm.

In the 62nd minute, the Real Madrid midfielder met a corner kick delivered by Saka. Despite being tightly marked, he managed to poke the ball into the net with the tip of his boot, greatly relieving the pressure on the Three Lions. This was not the first time Bellingham had stepped up in this World Cup. In the opening match, when England were held to a draw by Croatia just before halftime, he charged forward and scored a solo goal just two minutes into the second half to steady the ship. In the second match against Ghana, although the 0-0 draw was disappointing, Bellingham was named Man of the Match as one of the few bright spots.

Five minutes later, Bellingham again forced his way past a defender on the right side of the penalty area and delivered a cross. Harry Kane met it with a header in the center, extending England's lead to 2-0 and securing the group's top spot. With his 11th World Cup goal, Kane surpassed Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading scorer in the tournament, tying the record held by Jürgen Klinsmann and Sándor Kocsis. With starting wingers Rashford and Saka’s dribbles producing more noise than substance, Bellingham—who had strayed from his usual position—once again delivered a Man of the Match performance, saving Tuchel from potential criticism.

In fact, since taking over a year and a half ago, Tuchel has had several clashes with Bellingham. Rewind to June 2025: in a friendly match that ended in a 1-3 loss to Senegal, Bellingham repeatedly protested the referee's decisions with such intense body language and emotion that even Tuchel criticized him afterward, saying, "Some of his actions would make even my mother feel disgusted and uncomfortable." The German coach's careless remark caused an uproar. Tuchel later contacted Bellingham to communicate, and at the end of August, during the next national team training camp, he publicly apologized. Bellingham, who was absent due to injury at the time, did not respond publicly but reportedly settled the matter privately.

Then, in the September World Cup qualifiers, Tuchel dropped Bellingham, citing his lack of consistent playing time at Real Madrid while also stating that "team discipline comes before star players." The media interpreted this as a warning to the Real Madrid superstar. However, after Bellingham regained form at his club, Tuchel bowed to public opinion and recalled him in October.

Their direct confrontation occurred in November 2025 during an away World Cup qualifier against Albania. Tuchel substituted Bellingham in the 84th minute because he was already on a yellow card and risked suspension for the World Cup opener if he received another. To Tuchel's surprise, Bellingham reacted with extreme dissatisfaction, displaying negative body language. After the match, Tuchel did not hold back, responding firmly: "A coach's decision must be accepted. No waving arms or sulking! Other players also want to start—that's how a team should be!" The relationship then entered a cold war phase. During the two March 2026 international matches (the first international break of the year), Bellingham reported to the squad but did not play a single minute, and was sent back to Real Madrid early due to an alleged injury.

Tuchel might also be grateful to himself for not discarding Bellingham the way he had discarded Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Three days later, they can head to Atlanta with a calm mindset to face the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new knockout-stage team from Africa. This was a tough nut that Portugal failed to crack. How many holes can the Three Lions punch through it?