'I Don’t Want to See Him Sulking!' — Sam Allardyce Snubs Jude Bellingham in Bold England World Cup Selection

Sam Allardyce shocks fans by dropping Jude Bellingham for Morgan Rogers in his ideal England World Cup XI, while slamming the snub of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 9:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Footy Accumulators' No Tippy Tappy Football podcast

The Selection That Divided a Fanbase

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the England supporter base, Sam Allardyce has publicly called for the benching of Jude Bellingham, a player widely considered among the world's elite. Despite Bellingham’s talismanic status at Real Madrid and his central role in England's journey to the Euro 2024 final, Allardyce believes the 22-year-old should start the 2026 World Cup among the substitutes. The former Three Lions boss warned that Thomas Tuchel must be "ruthless" in his selections, adding a provocative caveat that he would not tolerate seeing the young superstar "sulking" if relegated to the bench.

Morgan Rogers Over the ‘Galactico’ Talent

The centerpiece of Allardyce’s tactical vision is the inclusion of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the crucial creative role behind Harry Kane. Allardyce acknowledged the immense competition for the position—noting the claims of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Bellingham—but ultimately settled on Rogers as his preferred "number 10." This selection aligns with a growing trend among veteran pundits, including Alan Shearer, who have recently questioned the automatic inclusion of England’s established global icons in favor of players in peak domestic form.

A High-Octane Forward Line for North America

Beyond the creative hub, Allardyce’s ideal forward line emphasizes raw pace and directness. He proposed a front three of Bukayo Saka on the right and Anthony Gordon on the left, flanking captain Harry Kane. By positioning Rogers as the central playmaker, Allardyce aims to create a system that prioritizes quick transitions and high-intensity attacking play. He suggested that Tuchel’s reputation for tactical pragmatism makes him the perfect manager to ignore media pressure and bench a "Galactico" like Bellingham if it serves the team's collective balance.