🔗 Share this article

Should Bellingham wants to earn his place into the English strongest squad, it would be smart to do away with the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted upon realizing that the substitute board was going up following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a strop. The captain had just put the national team leading by two in an inconsequential fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering it was possible he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was clear that the manager was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for the captain to score the team's second, but his other actions was self-defeating. There was no chance protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully upon his return to the fold in the current camp. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on whether the team perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. He has given the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but it felt different versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Wharton made his first start at this level and the role of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over from behind and pushed the player in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.