Bellingham Must Cut Out the Petulance to Reclaim a Key Position With Manager Thomas Tuchel.

If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place into the English strongest starting eleven, it would be smart to do away with the nonsense. His reaction upon realizing that he was being shown after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber match, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him considering there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the touchline it was obvious that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score the team's second, but his other actions was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the importance of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on if England perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad a clear system over the past few matches, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after an opponent took the ball by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a set-piece for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that set pieces are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was a little lost amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached to his side and guided Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if he is willing to give him centre stage remains in doubt.