Jude Bellingham Has to Cut Out the Petulance to Secure a Star Position With Tuchel.

Should Bellingham wants to earn his place once again into the English strongest squad, the smart move to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the teammates who come in," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in an inconsequential qualifier, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the tournament by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment when he clocked that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to nod home his second goal, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as the side completed a ideal group stage by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means opinions are divided on how England operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested by the coach at the start. He has given England structure and clarity in recent months, using a No 6, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder started for the first time internationally and the role of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card occurred when an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who seemed better suited to the spot occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka whipped in a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for the second goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and directed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to abandon him at this stage. However, whether the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.