England World Cup comment: Thomas Tuchel's man-management has Jude Bellingham bubbling but not boiling over

It started at least 13 months ago, maybe more. Tuchel has handled Bellingham in a very different way to Harry Kane, and in both cases, the results have been excellent.

England will need both at their best and more besides to beat Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final, and that will mean more delicate handling of the brilliant Brummie.

Despite not playing as a centre-forward, Bellingham has scored six goals in this World Cup, in a normal year a tally that wins the golden boot. Kane has six goals too.

Kane was quiet against Norway, but Bellingham was the difference between the Three Lions progressing and heading home.

Marcus Rashford, who has not featured in the last two matches, has England's only other goal in this tournament, and that was in their opening game.

Norway's exit means Argentina are arguably the last team left built around one superstar. England are fortunate enough to have two.

They could have had more, but in leaving big names at home, Tuchel showed his is not in thrall to them, as other managers are.

Kane, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland has been indulged, put on a pedestal as the leader of the group, its voice even when he cannot speak. Results have more than justified it so far.

Messi has been allowed to take penalties when others are better at it in the Argentina squad.

Bellingham has been shown a lot less love. That has worked too.

Tuchel apologised later, but his indiscreet comment last summer that his mother found some of Bellingham's behaviour "repulsive" was an important shot across the bows.

So was the German opting for Morgan Rogers as his No 10 in the autumn, after the Aston Villa man's starring performance in Serbia. Bellingham missed that game with a shoulder injury, but was left out of the next squad despite being fit.

Even in England's first warm-up game, Bellingham was captain of the second-half team – reminding him of his importance with the armband, but that he was not indispensable by again choosing Rogers first.

Some players need more than cuddles and compliments, and the 23-year-old has risen to the challenge, even biting back in the post-match interviews after the 2-1 win at Norway. After the game he dismissed the manager's criticism and highlighted how their playing careers did not compare. Kane played the diplomat.

Tuchel likes a bit of confrontation, and it is hard to imagine him minding that, so long as it does not build into something more.

It is not hard to see the relationship between the two ending in tears. Tuchel is playing a high-risk game but if England win a first World Cup in 60 years, we will all be pleased he did.

Gareth Southgate should forever take credit for laying the platform for an era of unprecedented English success – two World Cup semi-finals and two European Championship finals in eight years – but Tuchel was hired to find that extra ingredient. If it turns out to be a pinch of dynamite, great.

Tuchel has got Bellingham's aggression level just right by poking him into proving a point. Keeping him calm enough that inevitable Argentinian provocation does not tip him over the edge is next.

Ronaldo, Messi, Haaland, Kane and Kylian Mbappe get to play where they want and, it seems, how they want – in Kane's case, Tuchel is lucky his captain's wishes are just to do what is best for the team – but not Bellingham.

He has bounced between different midfield roles, shackled at times. It could be the case again in Atlanta.

Declan Rice has struggled physically, not just feeling the effects of an exhaustive Arsenal season, but in Miami three days in bed with illness too.

If his energy levels have topped up enough by then, he is likely to start the game.

But the chances of getting 90 minutes out of Rice seem slim, 120 slimmer still. And with Jordan Henderson nursing a broken arm and Kobbie Mainoo yet to play a minute in this competition for reasons best known to Tuchel, alternatives are thin on the ground.

Reece James replaced Rice against Norway, and finished the Croatia game there but he too cannot be banked on to go the distance. He could share a shift with Rice, but Tuchel might want something out of him in his best position, right-back.

Having to make so many physical substitutions has been one of England's biggest issues, and why Rashford has not had a kick since Congo.

Playing Bellingham alongside Elliot Anderson would diminish arguably the country's main threat, and it is hard to imagine him being too happy about it.

But as long as he can get him playing at his brilliant best – again – no one should be too concerned.