From Exclusion to Elation: Bellingham Shines as Madrid Beat Barca and Tease England's World Cup Plans

Return in Madrid After Exclusion

Jude Bellingham dusted himself off and returned to the glare of Real Madrid, answering indirectly to England manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to drop him from the squad for Wales and Latvia.

He had wanted to join up with England, but Tuchel argued the forward hadn't yet found full rhythm after his return.

Tuchel insisted he was easing Bellingham back, noting he had not completed a 90-minute shift and had started only one match since coming back.

Yet a pass Bellingham threaded to set up Mbappe in the 22nd minute of the Clasico at the Bernabéu on Sunday was a reminder of the talent still there.

The way he peeled away from midfield markers, spotted Mbappe's run, and delivered the pass with perfect timing and precision was not just good; it was a masterclass.

Later, he scored Madrid's late winner in a 2-1 victory over Barcelona, stepping off with quiet confidence rather than a celebration that could send the fans into orbit.

Even more striking was his display in Madrid's 4-0 win over Valencia, which many saw as a new proof that his shoulder injury and early-season surgery are behind him.

The Daily Mail explained that Bellingham controlled the match for Carlo Ancelotti's side, weaving through Valencia's defense and curling a fine strike that earned him man of the match.

It began a big week for the 20-year-old, with a clear message that the rehab phase could be behind him and his peak form may be returning.

Tuchel's England Dilemma

On Tuesday, Madrid were expected to name him in the squad to travel to Liverpool for the Champions League clash at Anfield.

In England, questions swirled whether Tuchel would include him in Friday's World Cup qualifier squad against Serbia and Albania.

The matches themselves may be procedural given England have already booked their place in the summer tournament, yet the selections would signal how much Tuchel trusts Bellingham.

There was still uncertainty whether the German coach, previously praised as a fearless innovator, would pick him for the squad on Friday.

Leaked reports would come before the announcements, but for many this is a genuine watershed moment: England’s World Cup hopes could hinge on Bellingham's availability.

Many argue it would be foolish to sideline the Madrid star again.

Tuchel’s rebuke of Bellingham’s on-pitch runs, described as “difficult to watch,” was later softened, with the coach saying the words were lost in translation.

The Daily Mail maintained that the decision to omit the Madrid star was tied to his ongoing recovery rather than a rejection of his talent.

Now it is clear he has recovered and is one of Madrid's most influential players, and England’s chances would be better with him in the squad.

Tuchel, described as brave and unafraid of controversy, would be unlucky to drop him again when the team’s World Cup dreams hang in the balance.

Granting Bellingham another chance would be practical as well as symbolic; there is little to lose and much to gain.

Coaches must draw the best from their players, and you will never get the best version out of him if he is stuck at home in Madrid.

Tuchel must make it work, and even if he fears unsettling the dressing room, the risks are probably lower than leaving a talent like Bellingham on the sidelines.

Either way, fans await the selections with bated breath as England's hopes ride on a young icon who seems to grow with every challenge.

Sniper punchline 1: If Bellingham keeps aiming true, Tuchel might need a bigger notebook just to track all the ways he can be brilliant.

Sniper punchline 2: England’s WC dream is like a sniper’s bullet—calm, precise, and probably coming from a Madrid balcony if Bellingham is in the squad.