In America’s Midwest, on the fields of Swope Soccer Village in Kansas, the evolution of Jude Bellingham’s standing within the England team continues.The Real Madrid star is just one game into this World Cup but already has a place in the team, a goal and an endorsement from his manager. None of this was guaranteed just a few weeks ago.Bellingham is the star whom Thomas Tuchel felt necessary to bring down to earth and the back story is known. Repulsion – an extension of Tuchel’s own word – led to exclusion last October and the manner of the response was always going to dictate how the story played out in the long term.Suffice to say Bellingham has thus far found his own way through the maze. With the help of some counsel from those he trusts in football and, more importantly, an apparent readjustment in outlook, Bellingham found himself standing in front of England’s fans after victory over Croatia in Dallas last Wednesday with the PA system in tune with the mood. ‘Hey Jude,’ it played.It has not been an easy journey and ahead of the 22-year-old winning his 50th cap in Boston against Ghana on Tuesday, it is not over.Tuchel is obsessive about the way his players behave and interact. His assistant Anthony Barry calls it ‘psychological profiling’. Suffice to say, they are always watching.Jude Bellingham's role in England's squad is a world away from where it was months into Thomas Tuchel's tenure After scoring the third goal against Croatia, Bellingham has all but nailed down his place in the starting line-up
How Tuchel's 'tough love' fixed England's Jude Bellingham problem
IAN LADYMAN IN BOSTON: None of this was guaranteed just a few weeks ago. Bellingham is the star who Thomas Tuchel felt necessarily to bring down to earth.














