You cannot accuse Jude Bellingham of lacking brand awareness – as the ambassador for petulance, his protest against Thomas Tuchel’s decision to substitute him was trademark indignation.
Never mind ‘who else?!’, here was ‘why me?!’. Well, it was because he had not long been booked and a second yellow in the final six minutes would have ruled him out of the opening game of the World Cup. It was sensible management by Tuchel, who had warned his players of this suspension pitfall.
Yet, Bellingham disagreed. Arms raised and eyeballs locked on his head coach, he was making it known he was not impressed at the sight of Morgan Rogers stripped on the touchline. What made it was worse was that England had just celebrated Harry Kane’s second goal – Bellingham should have been taken by the collective joy, not soured by his own sense of grievance and importance. His complaint, in fact, had started in the seconds before Kane scored and continued after.
This is why, in June, Tuchel refereed to his on-field behaviour as ‘repulsive’. This is why he sought to send a message to the Real Madrid star by leaving him out of the last camp, despite the player declaring himself available after shoulder surgery. Cleary, he did not listen.
By challenging his manager’s authority, he has failed miserably in the challenge presented to him – that was, to be a good team-mate. What does his selfish indulgence say to Rogers, trying to focus on the instruction given to him by Tuchel? What does it say to Kane, who had just taken his international tally to 78 goals and should have been the headline act? It says that this will always be about me, not you. Not us.
And this, don’t forget, was in the final minutes of a dead-rubber qualifier that was already won. Heaven forbid Tuchel thought it in the interests of the team to substitute him in a World Cup semi-final or final. What would Bellingham do then? Tie himself to the goalpost like a Just Stop Oil activist?
Jude Bellingham was not pleased at being substituted during England’s win against Albania
The Real Madrid midfielder had been booked and Thomas Tuchel was sensibly managing him
But Bellingham was visibly unimpressed after being hooked for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
Afterwards, Tuchel’s annoyance was tempered but appeared to simmer beneath the surface. He has worked hard to create an environment of togetherness.
‘I saw that he was not happy,’ said the German. ‘My word stands – we are about standards and a level of commitment to each other and respect to each other. So if someone is waiting outside, we will not change our decision just because someone is waving with their arms.
‘I don’t want to make more out of it, but I stick to my words, “behaviour is key” and respect towards the team-mates who come in. Decisions are made and you have to accept it as a player.’
All of this raises serious questions about Bellingham’s suitability for the England that Tuchel wants to take to North America. He will not like that the post-match talk was monopolised by the incident.
Bellingham’s first misstep was before a ball had been kicked. It may have been that he was trying to wash his sinuses of the tobacco that irritatingly perfumed this stadium, but in seeking a touchline drink in the seconds prior to kick-off, he was the only England player missing from the team huddle. An accidental absence, no doubt, but still an unfortunate look on an occasion when his re-introduction was as much about proving his willingness to embrace the collective. We know how that played out.
As for his performance, there was some good – a crunching, shot-saving tackle in his own penalty, a run and pass that led to Jarrod Bowen nearly scoring and a cute ball from which Eberechi Eze should have scored.
But there was also some of the Bellingham that Tuchel wants to see less of in an England shirt. There was frustration when the contribution of team-mates came up short, including one statuesque objection when Bukayo Saka chose to shoot rather than pulling back to his unmarked feet. He planted those boots and pointed at them after Saka’s effort was saved.
England, though, were way below their recent levels and seven changes – coupled with a change of formation – was too many. Bellingham’s use in what looked like an old inside-right position was baffling, especially when this should have been a chance to see how, at No.10, he linked with Kane.
Bellingham sulked into his seat on the subtitutes bench during the final exchanges in Tirana
Tuchel warned the midfielder that ‘behaviour is key’ during the post-match press conference
Tactical peculiarities aside, however, there was an off-the-ball incident inside the first 10 minutes that should also concern Tuchel. Given his warning about red cards, for Bellingham to push Albania’s Myrto Uzuni, albeit with minimal force, was both needless and risky.
It was in response to a sly nibble from his opponent, but two hands into Uzuni’s chest invited trouble. It was more brush-off than shove and, with play elsewhere, it passed over without any comeback, but that was the sort of skirmish Tuchel wanted his players to avoid.
Never did the England boss expect to find himself at the centre of another skirmish with Bellingham less than two hours later. Tuchel waited for him on the touchline and shook his hand before slapping his backside. Indeed, that felt very appropriate.
