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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way back into England’s strongest starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that he was going up following a night of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had just put the national team 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention to Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's frustration upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. The German has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, left out of the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad in the current camp. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case with his response to his substitution as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on whether the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager early on. He has provided the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. He made many hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England were ragged after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he lost the ball from Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that set pieces will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the player change. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and directed Bellingham in the direction of the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to give him centre stage is not guaranteed.