Thomas Tuchel says England’s top talents have fully embraced his team-first philosophy after Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden were limited to substitute roles in Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Serbia.

The England boss brought on Bellingham and Foden in the second half at Wembley, choosing to reward the players who had impressed during the team’s previous three outings.

England had already secured their spot at next year’s World Cup in October, following a dominant win in Latvia that came shortly after a 5-0 demolition of Serbia in September.

Bellingham had not featured for England since June, and Foden had missed the last three international camps. In a clear signal that selection must be earned through form rather than reputation, Tuchel kept both players on the bench until the 64th minute.

Once introduced, the pair combined brilliantly to set up Eberechi Eze’s stoppage-time goal, adding to Bukayo Saka’s first-half opener.

Since taking charge in January, Tuchel believes he has nurtured a strong sense of unity and collective focus within the squad. The German coach is confident that this togetherness will prevent any unrest among players who may not start at the World Cup.

“It’s not about creating a best XI — it’s about building a team,” Tuchel said. “They’re big players at their clubs, so of course they’re disappointed when they don’t start. That’s normal.

“But they’ve bought into this idea of building something together. It’s what we want, and what we need. There’s no alternative.

“Only a strong group, one that can put ego and frustration aside, can push each other and give the coach tough decisions for the next match.”

Bellingham has faced speculation suggesting he can be a divisive figure within the squad, but Tuchel has no doubts about the midfielder’s qualities and insists his place in the setup is secure. Whether he can fight his way into the starting side before the World Cup remains unclear.

Buoyed by seven consecutive World Cup qualifying wins without conceding, Tuchel is confident England’s leadership core will guide the squad in the right direction.

“We have a strong culture with a core group of leaders. The energy in the squad is right,” he said.

“Everyone wants to play — and that’s a positive. Camp by camp we strengthen our culture, and the players are the ones maintaining those standards.

“If we keep moving the right way, maybe we can build something special.”