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For Bellingham to wants to earn his place once again into England’s top starting eleven, it would be smart to do away with the dramatics. The way he reacted after noticing that the substitute board was going up following a night of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a strop. The captain had just put the national team 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for the head coach to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the World Cup by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the young midfielder's frustration as he realized that his replacement was ready for another player. 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 did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for Kane to head in his second of the night, but everything else was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, left out of last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the team this month. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on whether England function at their best including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager early on. Under him, England have gained the squad organization and direction in recent months, building with a No 6, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton made his first start internationally and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who looked more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the player change. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on him at this stage. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.