Jude Bellingham Needs to Cut Out the Petulance to Earn a Star Place In Tuchel.

If Jude Bellingham wants to fight his way back into England’s top team, he would be wise to do away with the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that his number was going up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it England two goals ahead in a meaningless match, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for the manager to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the World Cup by picking up a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for a teammate. He threw his arms up and although he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second of the night, but everything else was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team recently. In effect he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours with his response to coming off the pitch as the side completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on how the team operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity in recent months, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to City's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball to Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who appeared more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and directed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is not guaranteed.