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Should Bellingham wants to earn his place into England’s best starting eleven, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. His reaction when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team two goals ahead in a dead rubber 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. It was not a debatable decision. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a risk Bellingham would be suspended of the opening game of the competition by getting a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to head in his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold recently. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as England wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on whether England operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was inconclusive. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team a clear system in recent months, building with a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the use of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but at times seemed overly eager to shine. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player at the beginning. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham squandered possession. His booking occurred when he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who looked better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached to his side and pushed Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to give up on Bellingham yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to give him a starring role remains in doubt.