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For Bellingham to hopes to earn his place once again into England’s strongest squad, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that he was about to come up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "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 national team leading by two in a meaningless fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for the head coach to not substitute him because it was possible he would be suspended of the opening game of the competition by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and even though he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the touchline it was clear that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score his second of the night, but everything else was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England completed a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result the jury is out on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. He has provided England structure and clarity lately, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but the approach changed in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton made his first start internationally and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to abandon him at this stage. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position is still uncertain.