Bellingham Needs to Drop the Nonsense to Secure a Central Role In Manager Thomas Tuchel.
For Bellingham to hopes to force his way into the English top starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that he was going up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.
"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them as a player."
The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Kane had just put the national team 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him because it was possible the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.
Turning the Spotlight on Himself
Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the touchline it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.
This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to score his second of the night, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.
Under Scrutiny
He, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team this month. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case with his response to coming off the pitch as the national team wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.
The Coach's Plan
This implies it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was open to interpretation. There was experimentation by the coach in the beginning. He has given England structure and clarity lately, building with a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the use of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.
A Game of Two Halves
His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze after the break but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.
Squad Strength Shows
Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial next summer.
Bridge Still Stands
Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel came over to his side and directed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position remains in doubt.
