🔗 Share this article

For Bellingham to aims to earn his place once again into the English best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His response upon realizing that his number was being shown after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential 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 debatable decision. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering it was possible the midfielder would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline it was obvious that the head coach was displeased.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to head in his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the necessity of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection upon his return to the squad this month. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case with his response to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result the jury is out on if England function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the role of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eze in the latter period but at times seemed too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card came after he lost the ball to Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka provided a corner for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. At the end, the focus was on him. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the player towards the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage is not guaranteed.