Jude Bellingham may often be described as a once-in-a-generation footballer, but former England goalkeeper David James has explained why he believes the national side are right to treat the Real Madrid midfielder in the same way that past greats such as Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were handled. England have not always built their teams around their most naturally gifted individuals, and Thomas Tuchel seems to be continuing that philosophy heading into the 2026 World Cup.

'Galactico' Bellingham not guaranteed a starting place with England

Despite earlier doubts about his inclusion, Bellingham has now firmly established himself in England’s plans for the upcoming World Cup finals in North America, where he is expected to play a key role. However, competition for the No.10 position is intense, and even a ‘Galactico’ from the Santiago Bernabeu is not assured of a starting place. For many, that may seem surprising considering the 22-year-old’s extraordinary talent, but the focus is being placed on team unity rather than individual stardom.

Should England build their team around Bellingham's talent?

When asked whether Bellingham should be the focal point of every match, with others fitted around him, James—speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Sport, who provide the latest World Cup odds—told GOAL: “No, not at the top. No, no, no. I think everything Thomas has said, particularly about this squad, and especially in the context of the World Cup, shows that there’s balance in this team—there isn’t one focal player.”

James continued: “The problem with building everything around a single player is that if something goes wrong with that player, the entire system can collapse. Jude is an exceptional footballer; when he’s at his best, there’s arguably no better player than him. But winning a World Cup requires every player to share the responsibility. I believe Thomas wants to use the full depth of his squad rather than revolve everything around one player.”

“There will be times when Jude takes charge of games—that’s simply the level of quality he has. But the overall approach is based on squad depth to maximise the chances of success.”

Hoddle, Gazza & Scholes: Did England waste their most gifted players?

James was part of England squads that included Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, and he recalls that selection dilemmas were as prevalent then as they are now. The Three Lions famously struggled to make the most of Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle’s ability in the 1980s, while Hoddle himself controversially left out the mercurial Paul Gascoigne for the 1998 World Cup.

When asked if England have historically failed to maximise the potential of players who might have been central figures in other top national teams, James reflected: “Let’s think about success. With those players, we didn’t win any major trophies, so there wasn’t ultimate success.”

He elaborated: “If you look at the most successful national teams, they had truly exceptional players—France had Zinedine Zidane, Spain had Andres Iniesta, and Argentina had Lionel Messi. These players were not just brilliant; they were head and shoulders above everyone else in their respective generations.”

“Jude Bellingham is undoubtedly talented, but when you look at the calibre of players competing in this World Cup, the level is incredibly high. Relying on one star to carry a team to success no longer works in modern football. You can use such talents effectively at key moments, but teams today need adaptive strategies and contributions from multiple players. That’s exactly what England have now—a balanced squad that doesn’t depend on any single individual.”

Who will start for England in their 2026 World Cup opener against Croatia?

It remains uncertain whether Bellingham will start England’s 2026 World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday. Aston Villa’s creative midfielder Morgan Rogers is a strong contender, and Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, a Premier League title winner, is also in contention. Tuchel has made bold selection choices before—leaving out the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White—and Bellingham knows that no player, regardless of reputation, is bigger than the team’s collective mission.

How far can England go at the World Cup?

With a strong, balanced squad and Tuchel’s emphasis on tactical flexibility, England head into the 2026 World Cup with cautious optimism. The question now is not whether Bellingham can shine, but whether the team can come together to achieve the success that has eluded them for generations.