Jude Bellingham Makes Classy Morgan Rogers Admission Ahead of Croatia Clash

Jude Bellingham has made it clear there is no tension between him and Morgan Rogers, even as both players compete for a place in Thomas Tuchel's England national team lineup. Bellingham is one of Real Madrid's biggest names, but his spot in England's starting 11 is not being treated as automatic ahead of the World Cup opener against the Croatia national team.

That has naturally created competition with Rogers, who is also pushing for a major role. But instead of framing it as a rivalry, Bellingham spoke warmly about their relationship and explained that the two are simply pushing each other while still wanting the best for the team.

Speaking about the competition with Rogers he said, "I have no ill feeling when he's playing and I'm not playing and I think that is a great representative of where we're from... It was always just pushing... We'd be there to support them and I think that describes our relationship pretty well."

Jude Bellingham on his relationship with Morgan Rogers ahead of England's opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Croatia pic.twitter.com/wR4E284Tcp

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 12, 2026

England's final friendly did not officially confirm anything, but it certainly made Tuchel's selection picture look a little clearer.

The 3-0 win over Costa Rica felt like more than just a tune-up. It looked like Tuchel was testing the group he trusts most, especially with the World Cup opener now so close. Managers rarely reveal their full hand before a major tournament, but the players who started that match may have moved themselves closer to starting when the real games begin.

There are still a few areas where Tuchel has decisions to make. At the back, the center-back pairing remains one of the biggest talking points. John Stones and Ezri Konsa appear to have made a strong case, even though Marc Guehi had been widely viewed as a major part of England's plans. Tuchel seems to value power and presence in that area, but he will also have to think about balance, especially with the shape of the defense against Croatia.

The right side of the attack is another situation to watch. Bukayo Saka is still important to England, but his fitness has to be handled carefully after the issues he dealt with late in Arsenal's season. That could open the door for Noni Madueke, who has Tuchel's trust and offers directness if England decide not to push Saka from the start.

So while the biggest debate may be around Bellingham and Rogers, Tuchel has other calls that could shape England's tournament from the very first game.

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 1:32 PM.