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Should Bellingham wants to earn his place once again into the English top squad, he would be wise to do away with the nonsense. His response when he saw that his number was going up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the players who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had just put England 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for the head coach to not substitute him considering there was a chance Bellingham would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by getting a second caution.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that Tuchel was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second of the night, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about following squad protocols and the value of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to his substitution as the national team wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on whether the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager early on. He has provided England structure and clarity in recent months, employing a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time at this level and the use of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for his teammate after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham squandered possession. His caution came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel came over to his side and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. But if he is willing to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.