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Should Bellingham wants to force his way into the English top team, the smart move to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had only moments earlier made it England leading by two in a meaningless match, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for the manager to not substitute him given that it was possible he would rule himself out of the opening game of the World Cup by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance when he clocked that his replacement was ready for a teammate. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score his second goal, but the rest was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the team in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to his substitution as England rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on whether the team function at their best including Bellingham. What we saw was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel early on. Under him, England have gained the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for his teammate after the break but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner kick for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, the focus was on the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and pushed the player in the direction of the away supporters. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.