Why Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane Didn’t Start for England vs. France—World Cup
If anyone was in any doubt as to how much importance Thomas Tuchel placed on finishing third at the 2026 World Cup, his decision to leave Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham out of the starting XI against France on Saturday made it abundantly clear.
“It’s just common sense,” Tuchel argued pregame when quizzed specifically on the omission of his two top scorers.
“We have so many kilometers in the legs. We have so many travel kilometers in our bones. We have a day less recovery. We come from 10 men in altitude. We come from overtime here in Miami. These two guys, they gave everything physically in every match. They were ready to go again but we keep them and have them to finish the match for us.”
Heading into the newly-branded Bronze Final, England’s manager put up the unconvincing façade that he cared about the outcome. “It’s a chance to have the best result since 60 years,” Tuchel argued. “It’s a big game against one of the best teams in the world.”
It was so difficult to believe that hollow stance because in the immediate aftermath of England’s semifinal defeat to Argentina, Tuchel described the third-place playoff as “the match no one wants to play in.”
While the Three Lions were still alive in the part of the tournament that anyone gave any credence to, Tuchel outlined his most basic tactic. “The attacking formula is simple,” he detailed. “I put Harry and Jude together—and they will do the rest.”
Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and hat-trick hero Bukayo Saka created a new formula, although Bellingham still emerged off the bench to seal a frankly bonkers 6–4 victory for England over France in Miami.
England’s Confirmed Lineup vs. France
Starting XI (4-1-2-3)__: Dean Henderson (GK); Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice; Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze; Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Marcus Rashford.
Substitutes : Jordan Pickford (GK), James Trafford (GK), Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Reece James, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke.
Tuchel Defies Critics With Starting XI of Extremes
Thomas Tuchel has come under fire after the semifinal loss. / Ryan Pierse/FIFA/Getty Images
Tuchel had spent the previous three days suffering the slings and arrows of the infamously-bitter English media. To begin with, his decision to switch to a back-five and throw on six defenders in the second half of Wednesday’s semifinal was torn apart as an act of gross cowardice. The narrative was tentatively shifted away from Tuchel’s decision towards the innate actions of the players before the blame once again landed squarely on his shoulder.
“If the blame game needs to be played, O.K., we can do that,” Tuchel seethed. “But I have the right to not engage.”
This lineup was his way of engaging.
After hunkering down in the front row of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with every white shirt defending the goal like men lashed together on the bow of a sinking ship, the German coach went for the opposite extreme. A half-fit Rice was task with serving as the only vaguely defensive-minded midfielder, shuttling behind Eberechi Eze and Chelsea-bound Morgan Rogers. Naturally, he burst forward to break the deadlock after 134 seconds.
Konsa doubled England’s lead from a corner before a quick-fire Saka brace gave the Three Lions a stunning 4–0 lead at the interval. Tuchel did not batten down the hatches at halftime, although perhaps he wished that he had. France roared back, reducing the deficit to a single goal with a quarter of the contest remaining. A penalty for Saka was promptly canceled out by Ousmane Dembélé, setting up a nervy conclusion which Bellingham fittingly extinguished with England’s sixth of the day and his seventh of the summer.
