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For Bellingham to aims to fight his way once again into the English strongest starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the teammates who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make England leading by two in an inconsequential qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a chance he would be suspended of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to head in his second goal, but everything else was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the team in the current camp. In effect he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a tough opposition from Albania.

The System and the Setup

It means the jury is out on whether the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. He has provided the team organization and direction in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time internationally and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after he was dispossessed from Broja and brought down Broja.

Substitutes Decide

In the end the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who seemed more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that dead-ball situations are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. The coach approached from behind and directed the player in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on the player just yet. But if he is willing to give him the central position is still uncertain.