Thomas Tuchel says Jude Bellingham is a better player for England when he shows “a bit of rage”, after the midfielder impressed in the 3-2 Nations League defeat by Spain.
Bellingham was influential at Wembley Stadium despite England losing their opening match of the competition. He provided the assist for Anthony Gordon, won a penalty that Harry Kane missed and created a match-high five chances.
The Real Madrid midfielder also contested more duels than any other player in the game, competing in 15, while facing Spain’s influential midfielders Rodri and Fabian Ruiz.
His contribution to England has been particularly significant in front of goal. Bellingham has played a part in nine goals across his last nine international appearances, scoring seven and providing two assists. No other England player has been involved in more goals since the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Bellingham was involved in a heated exchange with Real Madrid team-mate Marc Cucurella during the match, and Tuchel believes such confrontations can bring out the best in the midfielder.
“He likes that,” Tuchel said before England’s Nations League meeting with Czechia on Tuesday. “He gets better if that happens.
“It’s better if he plays with a bit of rage. It’s what he does. I think sometimes he is looking for these moments to get his fire going.”
Asked specifically about the incident involving Cucurella, Tuchel said Bellingham’s competitive focus takes priority when he plays for England.
“I think he doesn’t know any team-mates when he is in the national team,” he said. “He wants to win. He doesn’t know any team-mates. He is still friends with them but not for the 90 minutes.”
England’s record against Czechia remains strong, with only one defeat in their past nine meetings in all competitions. They have won six and drawn two of the other eight matches.
That one loss came on England’s most recent visit to Czechia, when they were beaten 2-1 in October 2019.
England will also be attempting to avoid another unwanted sequence. Only three other teams have won consecutive home matches against them this century: Spain, who recorded three in a row, and France and Sweden, who each managed two.
Tuchel’s side have lost two of their past three matches in all competitions, matching the number of defeats they suffered in their previous 23 games combined.
England have not been beaten in successive matches since June and September 2022, when they lost Nations League fixtures against Hungary and Italy.
