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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way back into England’s best squad, the smart move to cut out the dramatics. His reaction upon realizing that he was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to not substitute him because it was possible he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the World Cup by getting a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the young midfielder's annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the touchline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He praised Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

He, left out of last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold recently. In effect he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on whether the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. He has provided the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time at this level and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after he lost the ball to Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality proved crucial. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked more comfortable to the spot in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. Tuchel walked up to his side and guided Bellingham in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. But if he is willing to grant him centre stage is not guaranteed.