🔗 Share this article

For Bellingham to hopes to force his way into England’s best squad, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that his number was going up after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the squad members who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions 2-0 up in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to nod home the team's second, but the rest was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold in the current camp. In effect his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as England wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

It means opinions are divided on if the squad function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach early on. He has given England a clear system in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start at this level and the role of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after he lost the ball from Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel threw on Foden, who appeared better suited to the role that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the player change. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the English fans. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.