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Should Bellingham hopes to fight his way once again into the English top team, it would be smart to cut out the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it as a player."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had just put the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for the manager to not substitute him considering it was possible he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by picking up a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

However, the player 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 another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the bench it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to nod home the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold in the current camp. Practically he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as England wrapped up a flawless qualification run by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on if England function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction in recent months, building with a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the role that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over to his side and guided Bellingham towards the English fans. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.