🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham wants to force his way into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who come in," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had just put the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it might have been reckless for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a risk he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration when he clocked that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and while he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the head coach was not impressed.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in the team's second, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the fold this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

As a result opinions are divided on whether the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction lately, building with a holding player, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking occurred when an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Foden, who looked more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner for Harry Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the player change. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and guided the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard the player just yet. But if he is willing to give him the central position is still uncertain.