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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way into England’s best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the nonsense. His response when he saw that his number was about to come up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the players who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make the national team two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to nod home the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the team this month. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the national team wrapped up a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result opinions are divided on how the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the team organization and direction in recent months, using a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup at this level and the positioning of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed to Broja and fouled Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over from behind and directed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard the player just yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.