🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham aims to earn his place once again into England’s best squad, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. His response after noticing that his number was going up after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a strop. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance he would be suspended of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's frustration as he realized that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he exchanged a handshake on his way to the bench it was clear that Tuchel was not impressed.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It is not as if complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The German has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

He, not included in last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team this month. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to being taken off as the national team completed a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

It means it's unclear on if the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction in recent months, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the use of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. One Albania chance came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed to Broja and fouled the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka provided a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, the focus was on the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and guided Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to give him centre stage is still uncertain.