Thomas Tuchel has given a first England call-up to Jobe Bellingham , admitting the midfielder’s older brother, Jude, had nagged him to do so, as he set up the prospect of their family dream being realised.

Tuchel’s inclusion of the younger Bellingham for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain was further evidence of his shift away from the squad that served him well at the World Cup last summer and towards a fresh dynamic for the mission to win Euro 2028. The manager has named a 25-man group for the game against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and the one against Spain in Madrid three days after; of the 22 outfield players, only 11 were at the World Cup.

Jobe Bellingham, the England Under-21s captain, has impressed for Borussia Dortmund this season and Jude is on record as saying how much it would mean if they could play together for their country, especially at a major tournament. “It would be the biggest dream of my life,” he said.…