🔗 Share this article

If Jude Bellingham wants to earn his place into England’s strongest squad, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was going up following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a strop. Kane had recently scored to make England leading by two in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him given that it was possible he would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Drawing Attention to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the player's annoyance as he realized that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline it was clear that the head coach was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to nod home his second goal, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It is not as if arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, left out of last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold recently. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to his substitution as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. What we saw was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from the manager at the start. He has given England a clear system over the past few matches, building with a holding player, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the use of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged after halftime. An opportunity for Albania followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and fouled Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that set pieces will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the player change. When the match concluded, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and directed the player to acknowledge the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon the player just yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.