🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham aims to earn his place into England’s top squad, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His response upon realizing that his number was being shown after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you need to comply when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a questionable change. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him considering there was a chance the midfielder would be suspended of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and although he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the bench there was no doubt that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to head in the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of last month’s squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the fold in the current camp. Practically he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on how England function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. He has provided the team a clear system lately, employing a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed in this match. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton started for the first time at this level and the positioning of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His booking was shown after he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally England’s depth proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over from behind and pushed Bellingham to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon him at this stage. Yet whether he is willing to offer him the central position is not guaranteed.