https://arab.news/vm7bm
- Jude Bellingham has been left out of England’s squad for upcoming games against Wales and Latvia just two days after being named as the national team’s player of the year
- he Real Madrid midfielder has recently returned after around two months out following shoulder surgery
LONDON: Jude Bellingham was left out of England’s squad on Friday for upcoming games against Wales and Latvia, two days after being named as the national team’s player of the year.
The Real Madrid midfielder has recently returned after around two months out following shoulder surgery, featuring in the Spanish champion’s last four games in all competitions.
However, Bellingham wasn’t included in a 24-man squad selected by head coach Thomas Tuchel that also saw fellow attacking midfielder Phil Foden, who has rediscovered his form at Manchester City, left out.
Bellingham, one of the most high-profile players in world soccer, is the big omission, though. On Wednesday, he was named England Player of the Year for the 2024-25 campaign after coming up with some big moments during the run to the European Championship final last year — notably a late equalizer with an overhead kick against Slovakia in the last 16.
In August, Tuchel said he apologized to Bellingham for saying the midfielder’s behavior “can be a bit repulsive.”
Tuchel said there was “no message, no hidden agenda” behind his comment, which was made in a radio interview the day after a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly in June.
England plays Wales in a friendly on Thursday and a World Cup qualifier in Latvia five days later