England star Jude Bellingham in red-hot form as Tuchel expects decisive knockout-stage impact

England national team midfield linchpin Jude Bellingham has been in full flow at this World Cup, with head coach Thomas Tuchel highly approving of his current performances and hoping he can maintain this level into the knockout stage.

At just 22, Bellingham has already been the standout performer for the Three Lions. In their opening group match, a 4-2 victory over Croatia, he scored a crucial goal; in the following 0-0 draw with Ghana, he was named Man of the Match. Although he felt that award carried some luck, in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Panama his performance was fully justified: he opened the scoring and later assisted captain Harry Kane to double the lead.

The Real Madrid midfield star’s excellent form helped England secure top spot in Group L, setting up a last-16 clash against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday local time. Tuchel said before the match: “I’m not sure whether this is a response to criticism, but it is exactly what we expect from him. From the first day of the camp, he has shown a very high level of commitment, fully matching all expectations of a team player, while also being able to change matches with his individual talent.”

“This is the same trait we see from other teams and top stars at this World Cup. He has that quality; he is a key player for us. He is in excellent form, but he must maintain this momentum.”

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Bellingham will turn 23 on Monday local time. The midfielder, who has earned 51 international caps, is in outstanding form in the United States and is competing with his friend Morgan Rogers for the No. 10 role — both started together against Panama.

Tuchel believes the Real Madrid star is at the “peak of his career” — he missed the start of the season after shoulder surgery and also spent time out earlier this year due to a hamstring injury. The England manager added: “After returning from injury, he has enjoyed being back on the pitch. Now he plays without restraint and can produce bursts of high-intensity energy in short spells. This is also why we are currently substituting him around the 60th to 67th minute — over recent months we have seen that he has not been able to maintain this level of intensity for both club and country.”

“When he does that, he becomes a match-winning player. He needs to play at this intensity and loves proving himself on the biggest stage. We fully support him and help him become the best version of himself. We also push Morgan to compete for the position. We need every player because they are versatile, compatible, and can threaten any opponent. His ability to maintain such an excellent mental state is extremely beneficial for us.”

As England’s World Cup campaign enters a new chapter in Atlanta, Tuchel is encouraged by the positive atmosphere in the camp. He added: “Hopefully we can go on for another three weeks. We have completed the second phase of the task; now is the time to strengthen belief and keep pushing forward. Everyone must take another step, maintain a positive mindset, and give everything to make the dream come true. But the road ahead is still long.”