I spoke with Thomas Tuchel – there’s no way two England stars both start at World Cup

Ally McCoist believes the chances of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham playing together at the World Cup are incredibly slim.

With the Three Lions learning their group stage opponents ahead of next summer’s showpiece event, two of their biggest stars could be pitted against each other in the battle for a starting berth.

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Thomas Tuchel’s dilemma

The race is well and truly on to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel‘s first XI in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.

And there is no greater competition for places among England’s ranks than in attacking midfield.

As well as Bellingham and Foden, Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer, Aston Villa‘s Morgan Rogers and Nottingham Forest man Morgan Gibbs-White are all giving the German coach a real headache here.

While all boast strong cases to line up behind Harry Kane, it’s fair to say the omission of either Bellingham and Foden would cause a stir.

The Real Madrid star has established himself as one of football’s most influential midfielders in recent years, as well as playing a starring role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.

Meanwhile Foden has long been hailed as the country’s biggest natural talent, despite failing to shine in a Three Lions jersey.

And after a difficult 2024/25 campaign, which saw Tuchel leave the Manchester City star out of successive England squads, he has hit top form this season, netting three goals in his last five games.

‘An embarrassment of riches’

talkSPORT’s McCoist believes Tuchel’s previous formation choices make it unlikely that the pair will line up alongside each other at the World Cup, despite both players seeming indispensable.

Discussing England’s possible set-up next summer on talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: “We did a bit of filming last night – Stevie Gerrard, Steve McManaman, a few of the boys, Joleon Lescott – and it came up in the conversation. 

“We were talking about England – wow! I would actually call it an embarrassment of riches.

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Addressing Foden and Bellingham’s chances, McCoist went on: “I don’t think the two of them will play. I think he’ll pick one. I really do.” 

In previous fixtures, Tuchel has opted for a No.6 and No.8 in midfield, with one attacking midfielder in front – with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice the preferred pairing up until now.

McCoist also revealed he recently spoke with the England boss individually at the World Cup draw in Washington – but was unable to eke out any hints over his selection choices.

Opening up their chat, the Scot continued: “Thomas Tuchel, incidentally, I spoke to [him] at great length over in Washington, and what an impressive man he is, by the way.

“I need to tell you all. Very, very impressive. I had good craic with him, good conversation, good chat with him – just talking about football.” 

“And obviously, he’s not going to divulge that information to me, but I think, looking at it now, I think Anderson and Rice are two starters.

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“I think Anderson and Rice are two starters, and then you’ve got three [in front] because Harry Kane will start, you’ve got three from an embarrassment of riches.

“And I don’t see Bellingham and Foden starting. I think [Bukayo] Saka will probably start on one side.”

Asked if Tuchel gave any indication over Chelsea man Palmer’s chances of a start, McCoist added: “He didn’t, but Palmer’s another one [in with a chance].

What has Tuchel said about Foden and Bellingham?

McCoist isn’t the only person to cast doubt over the chances of Foden and Bellingham starting together for England.

Speaking to talkSPORT in November, Tuchel himself stressed that he won’t be able to play all of his attacking stars together – including the two in question – and warned of a difficult omission at the World Cup.

When asked if Kane, Foden and Bellingham could start together he replied: “At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.

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“They can, but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed.

“Not for the structure that also comes with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. At the moment, we play with a no. 6, a no. 8, a no. 10 and a no. 9.

“There is a lot of congruence, especially in the no. 10 position, if you think about Phil can play there, you think about Jude, you think about Morgan Rogers who played fantastic for us in this position.

“You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White, so there is a lot of players, and there is the chance that we will not take everyone.

“Not because we don’t like [them], not because they don’t individually deserve it, but we will always do what’s best for the team.”

Tuchel, though, soon backtracked on his comments days later, when the trio all featured on the pitch in the latter stages of England’s clash with Albania, and clarified that in certain circumstances, his system could be tweaked.