There are many ways to describe the gamble that Thomas Tuchel took when he left Jude Bellingham out of the England squad and ensured that he would play no part in Thursday night’s demolition of Wales.
You could call it a power-play. You could call it an act of folly. You could call it a message. You could call it a challenge. Or a warning. Even a threat. However you choose to describe it, the only thing that really matters now is that the gamble worked.
Tuchel’s ploy worked and it worked spectacularly well. He made a point of picking a team rather than a collection of the best individuals and the team came through for him with colours flying. Wales’ wait for a first win against England since 1984 goes on.
It may well have given the England boss particular pleasure that the opening goal, which came inside the first three minutes, was scored by Morgan Rogers, who excelled in the 5-0 win in Serbia last month and who was playing in the No 10 position most had assumed would be Bellingham’s at the World Cup next summer.
Rogers was excellent again in this stroll of a 3-0 win and provided the assist for England’s second goal by Ollie Watkins. But just as Tuchel had hoped, this was a comprehensive team victory rather than a triumph based on individualism.
Some will say it had questionable value because it was only achieved against a Wales team that were a disappointment. But Wales are a team built on a fierce work ethic and a dedicated team spirit and England outdid them on both counts.
Thomas Tuchel’s gamble to omit Jude Bellingham paid off against Wales as Morgan Rogers found himself on the scoresheet
Tuchel’s side dominated Wales as they beat their neighbours 3-0 at Wembley on Thursday
Bellingham has been left at home training with Real Madrid after being left out of the latest England squad
The stakes were high for Tuchel going into this game. If England had not won, or even had they simply played poorly, then when the time came to recall Bellingham to the squad, probably next month, it would have looked if Tuchel was going to him cap in hand.
But the manner of this victory and the spirit that is building in this England team, the way that is thriving without Bellingham, Phil Foden and the injured Cole Palmer has given Tuchel a strong hand.
Sometimes, there are good games for a player to miss. Sometimes, there are games when a team plays poorly and any absentees look better for not having been involved. For any England players banished to the fringes, this was, emphatically, not one of those games.
The players who played against Wales solidified their positions. They made it even harder for Tuchel to leave anyone out and readmit start players. When Bellingham comes back, it will be on Tuchel’s terms.
For much of this game, particularly the first half, England made this contest look like men against boys. Perhaps Wales were distracted by the approach of their critical World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff next Monday.
They will have to be unrecognisable from the team that capitulated at Wembley if they are to get the win against Kevin De Bruyne and the rest that they crave. Craig Bellamy, their manager, has much work to do to lift them for the biggest game of their year.
Bellamy had said before the game that if Wales merely tried to sit deep and defend, they would ‘die a slow death’. They died a quick death instead. England were 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes, with goals from Rogers, Watkins and a beauty from Bukayo Saka. The game was over almost before it had begun.
Rogers and Saka were probably the pick of the players but Jordan Pickford made a series of superb second half saves to record his eighth consecutive clean sheet for England and break a record held by Gordon Banks. But, again, this was about the team.
England made the contest look like men against boys and scored early through both Rogers and Ollie Watkins
Bukayo Saka curled in a beauty soon after and it felt like the game was over before it has begun
England had taken the lead after two minutes. John Stones nodded down a deep corner from Rice, Marc Guehi kept the ball in and swivelled to play a short pass to Morgan Rogers, who swept it across Karl Darlow and into the corner of the net.
Eight minutes later, England were further ahead. Wales failed to clear another corner and Rogers had way too much time in the box to lob a ball across goal. Guehi tried to nod it over the line but could only get the faintest touch. It bounced to Watkins at the back post and he had time to control it before volleying it over the line.
England looked as if they might score with every attack. The Wales defence found it particularly hard to pick up Saka and when he had the ball, he created havoc. The Arsenal wide man had one shot blocked but next time he threatened, he scored.
After Elliot Anderson had a shot blocked, Rice and Rogers worked the ball out to Saka on the edge of the box. He took on David Brooks, jinked to his left and made enough space to curl the ball around the Bournemouth midfielder and into the top corner. It was a stunning strike.
Wales were reeling. They came from 3-0 down to level a World Cup qualifier against Belgium at 3-3 earlier this year but they looked bewildered by England’s class and speed. The 7500 fans who had filled the visitors’ section at Wembley fell silent.
Wales stemmed the bleeding for a while but England should have gone even further ahead five minutes before half time when Anderson swept a ball across goal and Watkins tried to prod it over the line at the back post.
The Aston Villa forward appeared to catch his studs in the turf as he stretched and then collided with the post. To add to his woes, he also contrived to lift the ball over the bar from two yards out. There was a sense of relief when he was able to resume after treatment.
It soon became evident, though, that Watkins could not run freely and he was not among the England players who ran out for the second half. Marcus Rashford, who has been reborn at Barcelona and is pushing for an England starting place, replaced him.
England’s next match is a World Cup qualifier against Latvia, with their manager’s position ever stronger
Rogers, having scored early, hit the bar late on too in what was an impressive showing
Rashford started wide on the left with Anthony Gordon moved into the central striker’s role and England wasted another chance to extend their lead five minutes after the break. Saka was the provider, sliding a pass into Rogers, who smashed a shot against the face of the bar from 10 yards out when he should have hit the target.
Then, with almost their first proper incursion of the game, Wales carved out a wonderful chance to claw their way back into the game. Brooks ran on to a deep cross at the back post and hit a sweet volley goalwards, only for Pickford to save superbly with his feet and deflect the ball over the bar.
Wales at least preserved some dignity by not conceding after the interval. If they beat Belgium next week, they will not care so much about this mauling but it was hardly the most morale-boosting preparation.
England move on to a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on Tuesday, their confidence sky-high and their manager’s position ever stronger.
