Overview
- Jude Bellingham told England's Lions' Den on Friday that players must ‘feel loved’ and enjoy their time in camp to help the team perform at the World Cup.
- Manager Thomas Tuchel has said starting places are competitive and that Bellingham’s role is not guaranteed, with decisions to be made after the remaining warm-up fixtures.
- Teammate Morgan Rogers described the squad as ‘really aligned’ and said it is easy for new players to fit into the group, reflecting a push for stronger camp cohesion.
- England open their tournament against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday 17 June, with one public friendly and a closed practice scheduled before the match.
- The comments respond to criticism that England were ‘not quite connected’ at Euro 2024 after reaching the final, and they signal a dual approach of managing player minutes while repairing off-field relationships ahead of a team seeking its first World Cup since 1966.