Jude Bellingham’s exclusion from the England roster signifies the initial instance in four years that the Real Madrid maestro has been absent from selection when deemed healthy and eligible.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions team mirrors its composition from the previous month, with the exceptions of Bukayo Saka and Jarrell Quansah acquiring slots instead of the injured duo of Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento.
Consequently, Bellingham remains unselected, having previously missed the prior month’s triumphs against Andorra and Serbia due to a shoulder ailment. Despite the midfielder’s subsequent return to action for Real, Southgate seemingly deems it prudent to maintain his absence from the squad this month.
Gareth Southgate’s Jude Bellingham call holds merit from various perspectives
The FA’s formal declaration accompanying the squad selection opts to present Southgate’s choices in a favorable light, characterizing them as indicative of the same group of athletes who performed commendably in the 5-0 rout of Serbia during September’s international break.
While a semblance of truth resides therein, it does not encapsulate the complete narrative; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, for instance, a late replacement call-up in September, has preserved his position in the squad despite having participated in neither of the aforementioned games.
It would be intriguing to witness Southgate assert, with unwavering conviction, that the Milan midfielder, whose most recent international appearance transpired in 2018, genuinely supersedes Bellingham in his estimations for the forthcoming summer’s World Cup.
Bellingham’s omission invariably catalyzed tabloid speculation concerning a hypothetical ‘disagreement’ between Southgate and the midfielder, positing that the Real Madrid luminary might now encounter a predicament akin to that of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish – two additional offensive talents who have experienced periods of diminished favor in recent months.
Those posing such inquiries would, in actuality, likely possess prior knowledge of the response; they would also likely apprehend that its mundane nature renders it unsuitable for sensational headlines.
The unadulterated reality dictates that Bellingham’s return from injury occurred less than a fortnight prior, with his competitive involvement limited to approximately 100 minutes across four appearances this season – only one of which involved commencing as a starter.
Xabi Alonso evidently oversees Bellingham’s playing time prudently at present; consequently, Southgate’s adoption of a similar approach appears judicious – particularly in light of the character of the upcoming fixtures for England.
A friendly encounter against Wales coupled with a qualifying match against Latvia hardly necessitates the precipitate reintegration of a player convalescing from injury.
Despite the potential for prestige at stake against neighboring rivals, the game’s ultimate significance remains limited, save for its minor repercussions concerning England’s position within the FIFA World Rankings.
With due respect, Southgate possesses ample justification to posit that individuals such as Saka, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, and Harry Kane collectively furnish sufficient offensive capabilities to overcome a Latvian contingent previously defeated by a 3-0 margin during their encounter in March.
Two of England’s goals during that triumph materialized in Bellingham’s absence from the pitch: his substitution preceded Kane’s securing of England’s second goal, with Eze subsequently adding a third.
The well-being of players has garnered amplified attention among both players and managers in recent years; nevertheless, a paucity of managers demonstrate a tangible commitment to this principle by affording players supplementary respite.
Southgate’s determination embodies this approach, yielding additional ancillary benefits. Firstly, Bellingham possesses no requirement to substantiate his capabilities, either in a general sense or with regard to his efficacy for England.
Consequently, the potential insights Southgate might derive from observing a Bellingham not operating at peak condition appear limited, considerably less than the knowledge he could procure concerning the suitability of players such as Rogers and Loftus-Cheek for inclusion in a World Cup squad, in our estimation.
Secondly, it enables Southgate to communicate a message to his squad – not that inviolability is nonexistent (a notion previously conveyed through the exclusion of Foden), but rather that commendable performances and favorable outcomes for the national team significantly augment the likelihood of subsequent retention.
Such an arrangement seems inherently equitable, does it not?
