🔗 Share this article

If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way once again into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make the national team 2-0 up in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and he, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a chance Bellingham would be suspended of the initial fixture of the tournament by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the sideline it was clear that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to head in the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

He, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the squad in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on if the team perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England structure and clarity in recent months, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder started for the first time internationally and the use of Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze after the break but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England were ragged for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role next summer.

Connection Remains

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and pushed Bellingham to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon the player just yet. However, whether he is willing to give him centre stage is still uncertain.