Jude Bellingham: Thomas Tuchel praises England midfielder's buy-in at World Cup after back-to

Thomas Tuchel praised Jude Bellingham's buy-in to the team ethic after another man-of-the-match performance from the 23-year-old drove England through to the knockout stages of the World Cup.

The head coach has consistently called on Bellingham to adapt the way he plays for Real Madrid when in an England shirt, and he is convinced the midfielder is a more potent force now because of it.

"We have to work in patterns and we have to work in units for the amount of attacking threat," Tuchel explained.

"If we all just play in freestyle no one knows what the other one is thinking. If we are in units I feel we get the understanding better and better, and Jude is a part of it because it is not only about the pattern, it is about the quality in the pattern."

Bellingham, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on Monday, has been man-of-the-match twice in England's opening three World Cup games.

He has scored two of England's six goals so far, and also contributed an assist, meaning he has been directly involved in 50 per cent of their goals at the tournament.

But against Panama, he was also the most important player when England didn't have the ball, winning more tackles (4) and more duels (11) than anyone else on the pitch.

"I'm not sure if it's a reaction but it is what we want from him," said Tuchel. "He has been very positive from the first day in camp. He is fully into all the things from him as a team player, and he brings his individual quality to decide football games.

"That is what you see in World Cups now and what you see from other teams and other big players. He is a key player. And he buys into all the things that we demand of him as a team player. Well done until now. He needs to keep on going."

Bellingham has been battling for the No 10 role with close friend Morgan Rogers during the World Cup.

Both started against Panama and Tuchel believes the Real Madrid man is in a "sweet spot" having missed the start of the season following shoulder surgery and spent a spell on the sidelines earlier this year with a hamstring issue.

"After his injury, he's just happy to play again," the England boss said. "He feels free and he can also put out these kind of intensities in a short period of time now.

"That's why we also take care of him at the moment after 60, 67 minutes because we saw in the last months that he did not produce these kind of intensities for club and country.

"When he does that, he is a key player. He needs to play with this intensity, he loves to play on this kind of stage. We try to support him, help him to be to be the best version of himself.

"We will also push Morgan to fight for his place. We will need anybody because they are versatile, they can play with each other, and they are a threat to any opponent, so it's good that we have him in this kind of spirits."

Bellingham is one of only three England players who have scored so far in the World Cup.

Marcus Rashford has one goal, and Harry Kane has three - becoming England's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. But Tuchel is not worried about what others see as an over-reliance on Kane and Bellingham.

He added: "We want these guys in the key moment and show up. I am convinced that Nico O'Reilly almost did it against Ghana, Harry did it, Jude did it, and I'm sure Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Noni [Madueke] and Bukayo [Saka] will do it when the time is there, and we need that."

Tuchel is also excited to see such energy around the camp as the next chapter of their World Cup story gets under way in Atlanta.

"It's another three weeks, hopefully, for us," he added. "We have finished now the second part of it. Now is a moment to keep believe and keep on pushing.

"Everyone takes another step, everyone stays positive and gives everything that the dream can come true. But it's a long way to go."

Sky Sports' Gary Neville on Stick to Football:

"I've always thought of Bellingham predominantly as a No 10 arriving in the box.

"I look at him against Panama, if you think about a young Roy Keane who used to compete in midfield, do the defensive work, but they'd also run forward constantly, make runs in behind, and then have that bit of quality in the final third.

"Against Panama, Bellingham looked like a complete midfielder. He looked he went to a different level.

"He has been England's best player in this tournament by a mile."

Sky Sports' Roy Keane on Stick to Football:

"We know he's had that quality.

"He's getting a bit older, maturing and taking that responsibility. The role where he is deeper, it might be slightly easier for him because he sees the space and he's not afraid to run into it.

"It looks like he is embracing it [being a leader]. He's stepping up to the plate."

Former England striker Ian Wright on Stick to Football:

"I think he wants to play in that deeper role.

"In the No 10 role he is waiting for the ball to come to him. That's not what he wants.

"I think he wants to be that guy who is tackling back. He wants to be involved at all times."

What is England's potential path to World Cup glory?

Wednesday July 1: England vs DR Congo, Atlanta - kick-off 5pm

Monday July 6: England vs Mexico/Ecuador, Mexico City - kick-off 1am

Saturday July 11: England vs Brazil/Japan/Ivory Coast/Norway, Miami - kick-off 10pm

Wednesday July 15: England vs Argentina/Cape Verde/Australia/Egypt/Switzerland/Algeria/Colombia/Ghana, Atlanta - kick-off 8pm

Sunday July 19: England vs *France/Spain/Morocco/Netherlands/Portugal/Belgium/Germany/Croatia/USA, New Jersey - kick-off 8pm