🔗 Share this article

If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way back into England’s top team, he would be wise to eliminate the nonsense. His response upon realizing that he was being shown following a night of uneven play in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for an outburst. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for a foul on an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that there was a risk the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by receiving a another booking.

Shifting Focus to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance when he clocked that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection upon his return to the squad recently. Essentially he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case with his response to coming off the pitch as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on how England function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. He has provided the squad structure and clarity lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time internationally and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for his teammate in the latter period but often looked trying too hard. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy after halftime. One Albania chance followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who looked better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for the second goal was a little lost amid the drama of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on him. Tuchel walked up to his side and guided Bellingham towards the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to give him the central position is not guaranteed.