Paul Merson: Bellingham's deeper role leaves Tuchel a midfield puzzle

Paul Merson says Jude Bellingham's goal-and-assist performance in a deeper midfield role against Panama has given Thomas Tuchel a selection headache before England's last-32 World Cup clash with DR Congo on Wednesday, because Declan Rice is expected to return to the position Bellingham just dominated. The Sky Sports pundit believes the Real Madrid star's all-action display forces tough choices in the bellingham england setup as the knockouts begin.

Merson wrote that Tuchel "now has a major problem" after the 2-0 Panama win. Bellingham lined up alongside Elliot Anderson, ranking first among England players across key metrics while Rice was rested ahead of the knockout stage.

Key Takeaways

• Bellingham grabbed a goal and an assist in a deeper role as England beat Panama 2-0, with Rice expected back for Wednesday's DR Congo tie.
• Paul Merson says Rice must start when fit against bigger teams, but Bellingham is harder to mark coming from deeper areas.
• Pairing both could bench Anderson and leave a No 10 dilemma, with Morgan Rogers quiet against Panama and Bellingham flat against deep-sitting Ghana.
• BBC analysis notes Bellingham's box-to-box adaptability helped England reshape around Rice's absence, driving both goals in the second half.
• The Independent reports Bellingham has "matured" around Tuchel's squad after twice match-winning in England's World Cup 2026 campaign.

Why did Bellingham play deeper against Panama?

With Rice rested, Tuchel reshaped England's build-up. BBC Sport reports Bellingham supported Anderson at the base of midfield, with the shape loosely flipping between a 3-2-5 and a 3-1-6 depending on how he read the game.

After the match, Tuchel said Bellingham "played as a 10 when we had the ball" while wanting six players in the last line to outnumber Panama's back five. In the first half he played deeper; in the second he took up more attacking positions.

The tactics correspondent noted Bellingham's versatility "came in clutch" as injuries and under-form wide players forced England to build through the centre. He won fouls under pressure, swept play wide, and made recovery runs and slide tackles.

What is Tuchel's midfield dilemma before DR Congo?

Merson is clear on one point: "Rice plays. There is no doubt about that for me." But Bellingham's deeper showing created a problem in Rice's territory. "When we come up against the bigger teams, you'll need Rice," Merson said, adding there is "no disrespect to Panama."

Yet the upside is real. Merson argued Bellingham is "so much harder for the opposition to pick up when he's coming from deeper," with more room than in a congested No 10 zone.

Morgan Rogers "really struggled" in the No 10 role against Panama, mirroring Bellingham's limited impact against Ghana's deep block. Merson asked how England will "get the ball into whoever plays in the No 10 position" so they can affect the game.

Can England pair Bellingham with Rice in midfield?

Merson floated pairing Bellingham with Rice but conceded that "might be tough on Elliot Anderson." The bigger issue, he said, is who plays behind Harry Kane if Bellingham stays deep.

He was not surprised by the performance. Bellingham "wants to be on the ball" and "plays the game like an enthusiastic school kid," reminding Merson of Wayne Rooney's urge to influence every zone.

Merson compared England's need to feed Bellingham to Argentina giving Lionel Messi the ball in tight spaces, though he stressed Bellingham is "not afraid to do the same." For more on England's knockout drama, follow our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.

Does DR Congo make a No 10 role harder for Bellingham?

Returning Bellingham to the No 10 "is going to be tricky," Merson warned, because DR Congo are expected to sit deep with "10 behind the ball," similar to Ghana. He believes Bellingham has "more chance of getting the ball" in the role he played against Panama.

The Independent frames Bellingham as England's clutch match-winner after goals against Croatia and Panama, with many in football believing his mentality could finally push the team over the line.

Tuchel's assistant Anthony Barry noted England lost possession centrally early against Panama before reinforcing verticality at half-time. Full analysis is on Sky Sports.