🔗 Share this article

For Bellingham to hopes to force his way back into the English best starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His reaction when he saw that his number was being shown after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and the player, after a below-par performance, received a caution for bringing down Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it might have been reckless for the manager to leave Bellingham on because it was possible he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the touchline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

This implies opinions are divided on if England perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach in the beginning. He has provided the team a clear system in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup for England and the positioning of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His booking was shown after he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who seemed more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that set pieces will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.