🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham hopes to fight his way once again into the English top squad, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction when he saw that he was about to come up after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the teammates who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions leading by two in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for bringing down the Albanian striker. It was not a debatable decision. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment as he realized that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and while he exchanged a handshake while heading to the bench it was clear that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to nod home his second goal, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a spirited effort from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on how the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England a clear system lately, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the role of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a set-piece for Harry Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the player towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon him at this stage. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him the central position remains in doubt.