Morgan Rogers knows the debate better than anyone. Should Thomas Tuchel go with Jude Bellingham as the No. 10 or stick with Rogers, who held that role through most of World Cup qualifying? But Rogers has another answer entirely: play them both.
The Aston Villa midfielder told ITV he and his childhood friend can absolutely slot into England’s starting lineup together against Panama this weekend. It’s a pairing that feels inevitable to people who watched them grow up five miles apart in Halesowen, playing on opposite sides or as teammates in youth ball before climbing through England’s junior ranks together.
Different games, same wavelength
Rogers didn’t just say yes and move on. He made a real case for it.
“I think we have different qualities,” he said. “Obviously there’s a lot of similarities but I think there’s a lot of differences in our games.” The real edge, he argued, is that they’ve known each other so long that the connection is almost telepathic. “That’s another key aspect that can be really important and really beneficial in the World Cup.”
Tuchel has gone with Bellingham in the hole for England’s first two group games, even though Rogers got the nod during most of qualifying. That’s produced some chatter about who deserves the starting role. Rogers isn’t pretending it doesn’t sting a little.
“Expect is the wrong word. Hopeful, optimistic,” he said when asked if he felt like the guy. “Disappointment, of course, I’m disappointed. I want to play every game. I want to show what I’m about and show it on the biggest stage. But understanding as well. I know it’s a team, in a squad role, and there’s plenty of games.”
There’s a weird layer to all this. When the guy taking your spot is also your best friend, does that make it easier or harder? Rogers didn’t hesitate.
“Easier because I want him to do well, and it’s because it’s him, everything’s fine.”
Full circle from Halesowen
Rogers was a key piece in Villa’s Europa League run last season, and he’s not just happy to be here. But there’s something bigger at play for him. Seeing his name next to Bellingham’s on an England roster — after all those years of local youth games and England camps — is the kind of thing that doesn’t feel real until it happens.
“This is really nice, I think coming full circle (from their junior days), where we started to where we’ve ended up now, his path, my path, and how we’ve ended up at the same point, representing our country. It’s just a really nice feeling.”
Tuchel hasn’t tipped his hand on whether he’ll actually pair them against Panama. But Rogers made his case. And for anyone who watched those two kids in Halesowen, the idea of watching them do it on the biggest stage doesn’t feel like a stretch at all.
Leave a Comment