Jude Bellingham has been warned to cut out the 'nonsense' after reacting angrily to being substituted during England's 2-0 win over Albania. The 22-year-old midfielder threw his arms in the air when he saw his number was about to come up, challenging manager Thomas Tuchel's authority.
Tuchel, who has emphasised the importance of behaviour and team hierarchies, was unimpressed. 'I don't want to make more out of it but I stick to my words: behaviour is key and respect towards the teammates who come in,' he said. 'Decisions are made and you have to accept it as a player.'
Bellingham had been under scrutiny after being left out of the previous squad. His performance in Tirana was inconsistent, with rushed passes and a booking for a foul on Armando Broja. The substitution, with England 2-0 up and six minutes left, was seen as sensible to avoid a second yellow card that would have ruled him out of the World Cup opener.
Tuchel's system saw Bellingham operate as an inside-right, but there was little connection with Harry Kane. England's depth proved decisive, with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka making an impact after coming on. Saka's corner led to Kane's opener, highlighting the importance of set pieces.
The incident has raised questions about whether England function best with Bellingham in the team. His frustration was self-defeating, and he must now embrace the collective to secure his place under Tuchel.
