🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham wants to fight his way once again into the English top starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. His response when he saw that his number was going up after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by receiving a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the bench there was no doubt that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for Harry Kane to head in the team's second, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance complaining was going to alter the decision. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

He, left out of the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad this month. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours with his response to coming off the pitch as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies opinions are divided on how the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager early on. He has given the squad organization and direction in recent months, building with a holding player, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a passing resemblance to City's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His booking occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the position that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on him. Tuchel walked up to his side and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.