🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham aims to force his way once again into the English best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His response after noticing that his number was about to come up after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who enter the game," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the sideline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but the rest was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

He, left out of the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the team recently. Practically he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as England completed a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies opinions are divided on whether the squad perform optimally when Bellingham plays. What we saw was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel at the start. He has given the team structure and clarity lately, building with a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost amid the drama of the player change. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached to his side and guided the player to acknowledge the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to discard the player just yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.