Tuchel appears to take swipe at Jude Bellingham after England’s 5-0 win in Serbia

Thomas Tuchel suggested Friday that established stars will have to earn their places in the England team after a 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade that was achieved without several high-profile names.

The German, overseeing what he described as his best night as England manager, highlighted the togetherness and professionalism of the side and repeatedly returned to the theme that anyone — however big — must be ready to compete for a place. The goals came from Noni Madueke, Harry Kane, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford in a performance that conceded no shots on target.

"There was no attitude after a mistake, there was no frustration, there was no waving, there was no eyeballing, there was no bad words," Tuchel said. "It was just a team ready to work and put 90 minutes effort in. This is a team sport. They have the quality to play for us and the hunger to play for their country and everyone gets his chance."

Tuchel's remarks came after England named a squad missing several regulars, including Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer. Tuchel has previously said that Bellingham can "intimidate" team-mates, and his latest comments were widely read as a reference to the Real Madrid midfielder.

The manager said he would not be afraid to leave out big names if circumstances warranted it. "I am always brave. You know that," he added. "But I don’t talk now about hypothetical names that can be left out. Let’s see who’s fit and available. I think we took some brave decisions already. We nominated a squad of only 21 to keep the competition going. The competition is on. If you are in camp, you are in your best behaviour, your best shape, best form and you make the best of it. It’s a privilege to be in camp and then fight for your place."

Tuchel praised individuals who stepped up in the absence of those regulars, singling out Morgan Rogers and Madueke for their contributions. England’s defensive showing underpinned the win; Tuchel noted the intensity and work-rate of his players, saying, "We didn’t concede a shot on target. We didn’t allow any big chances. We need to do the little things right. I felt that the team was ready and I am just very happy that they proved it."

The result and Tuchel’s comments sharpen the selection debate as England move forward with a smaller squad and apparent emphasis on internal competition. By limiting numbers and rewarding players who demonstrate team-first attitudes, Tuchel signalled he is prepared to prioritise cohesion and readiness over star power when naming teams for camps and tournaments.