Thomas Tuchel is having the last laugh with his England team, reveling in the chaos he has sown amidst the No 10 conundrum. The selection process was always going to be crucial as Tuchel insisted on selecting one central creator, rather than having multiple stars on the pitch at once.
When Jude Bellingham didn't start against Serbia, it sent shockwaves through the England faithful. Was this a tactical decision or simply a deliberate attempt to stir up controversy? Tuchel has already made his stance clear: he sees no problem with dropping Bellingham, but where do you play him? The young midfielder is often deployed as a right-sided attacker, which seemed to work against Serbia.
Phil Foden, on the other hand, thrived in a false 9 role. His ability to drift inside and create space allowed Morgan Rogers to flourish in midfield. The latter was arguably England's best player, displaying impressive skills and vision that left Serbian defenders baffled.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Tuchel's team, however. A lackluster start had everyone wondering if there would be any spark at all. And then, suddenly, the floodgates opened. Bukayo Saka's volleyed finish gave England a 1-0 lead, and from that point on, it was almost impossible to contain Serbia.
Despite some promising signs in midfield, particularly with Nico O'Reilly making left-back look like child's play, Tuchel's team ultimately settled for a narrow victory. The question remains: who will miss out on the starting lineup when Cole Palmer is back in contention? Is this England's best No 10, and if so, why hasn't he been given a chance to prove himself yet?
One thing is certain, however - Tuchel's ruthless approach has paid off for now. His team may not have impressed everyone, but they certainly sent a message: don't underestimate them at your own peril.
When Jude Bellingham didn't start against Serbia, it sent shockwaves through the England faithful. Was this a tactical decision or simply a deliberate attempt to stir up controversy? Tuchel has already made his stance clear: he sees no problem with dropping Bellingham, but where do you play him? The young midfielder is often deployed as a right-sided attacker, which seemed to work against Serbia.
Phil Foden, on the other hand, thrived in a false 9 role. His ability to drift inside and create space allowed Morgan Rogers to flourish in midfield. The latter was arguably England's best player, displaying impressive skills and vision that left Serbian defenders baffled.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Tuchel's team, however. A lackluster start had everyone wondering if there would be any spark at all. And then, suddenly, the floodgates opened. Bukayo Saka's volleyed finish gave England a 1-0 lead, and from that point on, it was almost impossible to contain Serbia.
Despite some promising signs in midfield, particularly with Nico O'Reilly making left-back look like child's play, Tuchel's team ultimately settled for a narrow victory. The question remains: who will miss out on the starting lineup when Cole Palmer is back in contention? Is this England's best No 10, and if so, why hasn't he been given a chance to prove himself yet?
One thing is certain, however - Tuchel's ruthless approach has paid off for now. His team may not have impressed everyone, but they certainly sent a message: don't underestimate them at your own peril.
I think what's striking about England's performance against Serbia is the tension that comes with Tuchel's unconventional approach to player selection. By choosing to go with one central creator over multiple stars on the pitch, he's forced everyone to raise their game, which ultimately led to a more cohesive and effective team effort. It's not just about having a few talented players on the pitch, but also about how they work together as a unit. And let's be real, it's definitely not for the faint of heart - dropping Jude Bellingham was a bold move, and it'll be interesting to see how that decision plays out in future matches. 
what is Tuchel even trying to achieve? like, if you can't start him, what's his point in being on the team? 
i mean Foden looked decent as a false 9 but let's not forget that Serbia was no powerhouse 
anyhoo, Tuchel's tactics are pretty interesting...he's all about playing to your strengths and then exploiting the opponents' weaknesses 
Goals are the best way to win over anyone, even if you're not their favorite player!
I'm lovin' how Tuchel's team played that match! The way he mixed up the positions and made those players work in different roles was genius 
! He was on fire against Serbia and his volley was pure magic 
. But, let's be real, Tuchel's tactics were kinda sketchy, especially with Jude Bellingham not starting 
. I mean, what's the point of having a talented player like him if you're not gonna give him some playing time? And don't even get me started on Phil Foden, he was great in that false 9 role, no question 
. I think England needs some youth and freshness in that midfield role and Palmer would be a great choice 
.
. There's still a lot of work to be done before they can take on the big boys 
.
. And Phil Foden as false 9, genius! but why didn't we see more of that during his time at City? also Cole Palmer being left out already, that's just frustrating 
. and I'm loving Tuchel's "ruthless approach" vibes, he's like the footballing version of Elon Musk 
. I mean, Tuchel's tactic of playing just one creator was always gonna be shaky. You can't just ignore the rest of the team like that. And what's up with this obsession with Bukayo Saka? He's had some good games, but let's not put all our eggs in one basket 
. And Cole Palmer getting a chance to prove himself is long overdue imo 
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. And let's be real, Phil Foden did look sharp in that false 9 role, but can Tuchel really commit to playing him there regularly? I'm not sure how the squad will balance out once Cole Palmer comes back into the mix... it's gonna get interesting 
.
I'm loving the way Tuchel is shaking things up! Playing Jude Bellingham on the right wing was a masterstroke, it really allowed him to showcase his skills and cause chaos for the Serbian defense 
. The question is, though: when Cole Palmer comes back from injury, who gets the nod at No 10? 
#TuchelForTheWin #BellinghamOnTheRight #FodenInFalse9
. I mean, Jude Bellingham being benched against Serbia was like the ultimate chess move... or a clever troll. But for real, Phil Foden's false 9 role looked super effective, and Morgan Rogers' midfield display was 
.
. And Phil Foden in the false 9 role? Pure magic 
. Bring on the next match! 
As for Bellingham being the best No 10, I'm not so sure... I think Tuchel needs to figure out where to play him and how to utilize his skills. And Cole Palmer's return from injury is definitely going to shake things up - it'll be interesting to see who misses out on the starting lineup 
instead of making everyone wonder what's gonna happen next...and o'reilly at left-back is crazy 
i need to see more of that in a real game tho 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good underdog story?
But yeah, Cole Palmer's return to contention is gonna shake things up for sure. I just hope he can find his footing quickly because England needs him to be at their best.
They didn't let the doubt and pressure get to them, and that's what makes their win so sweet.
. If he's that good at number 10, why hasn't he been playing yet? The team did look solid in the end, but I'm still not convinced they're the best lineup 
. Only time will tell if he can keep up this momentum 
!