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Should Bellingham aims to force his way into England’s top team, the smart move to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that his number was being shown after an evening of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had just put the national team 2-0 up in a meaningless fixture, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it would have been unwise for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by receiving a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the player's disappointment as he realized that his replacement was ready for another player. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the touchline it was clear that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the fold in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on if the squad operate most effectively including Bellingham. What we saw was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad structure and clarity lately, employing a holding player, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the role of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze after the break but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution was shown after he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel threw on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a corner for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and directed the player in the direction of the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not broken. The coach isn't ready to discard him at this stage. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position is not guaranteed.