TA: Bellin’s return is not perfect but it has laid a foundation; the three-back style is not as comfortable as the old formation.

On November 17, in the final round of Group K in the European preliminaries of the World Cup, England defeated Albania 2-0 in an away game and Kane scored twice. The Three Lions entered the World Cup with a terrifying record of winning 8 games, scoring 22 goals and conceding no goals. After the game, "The Athletic" talked about Bellingham, the team's tactical adjustments and other topics.

How does Bellingham perform in his return to the starting lineup?

This is his first start for the England team since June, and he is undoubtedly the most watched player in the game. There has been a lot of talk about Bellingham over the past few months, and he must be feeling relieved now. The start of this return was not easy. The team adopted a new tactical system and he needed to share the No. 10 area with Rice.

Bellingham was eager to prove himself, sometimes cutting inside or moving forward in front of Bowen, and sometimes swapping positions with Stones to gain possession of the ball. He was a little impatient during the game and even almost clashed with Youzuni, but as the game progressed he gradually adapted to the rhythm.

England's performance was dull in the first half. The only bright spot was the wonderful one-two between Bellingham and Kane. In the end, Bowen's shot was saved by Strakosha. After returning to the traditional No. 10 position in the second half, Bellingham's performance improved significantly. He created an excellent opportunity for Eze with a precise through ball, and then found Kwansa with a clever pass, indirectly creating an opportunity for Saka, and Kane's first goal also came from the corner kick he created.

Bellingham was obviously disappointed when he was substituted, which is understandable. Tuchel emphasized the importance of "whole". Although it was not a perfect night, for Bellingham, this return was full of highlights, showing his strength and laying a good foundation for the future journey.

Did Walton and Bowen seize the opportunity?

Although the team's formation and most of the main players have been basically determined, there is still room for competition in some positions. The final roster is yet to be determined, and everyone still has a chance.

Wharton was selected into Southgate's squad for the 2024 European Cup. At that time, he was regarded as England's next-generation offensive core. Anderson's outstanding performance this season may have stolen Walton's limelight to a certain extent, but Walton's performance at Crystal Palace proved that he cannot be ignored even as a substitute.

This is Walton's second game with the England team. With his solid performance, he has added weight to his World Cup journey. Although he received a yellow card, Walton's passing schedule was simple and efficient, and most of the team's offense was organized and advanced through him.

The same goes for Bowen, who must continue to prove his worth. He worked very hard in this game, but failed to show top-level creativity. Before Tuchel finalizes the final roster, the two have few opportunities to perform in the Three Lions, so the performance of the club will be the key to their competition for places.

Why did the team adjust its tactical system? What is the effect?

In addition to the substantial rotation of 7 players, Tuchel also asked the team to adopt another formation when possessing the ball: 3223. Stones partnered with Walton in the midfield, while Rice and Bellingham served as a double attacking midfielder. England used a similar style of play when they defeated Latvia 3-0 in March this year.

There were some highlight moments in the game: Stones has played this position in Manchester City for many years. On Sunday night, he sorted out the team's offensive rhythm throughout the entire process, always maintaining a receiving posture, constantly interspersing runs, decisively commanding his teammates and accurately predicting open positions.

Although Stones performed well, it is difficult to say that the effect of this formation is ideal. The England team created few chances in the first half, with frequent confusion and congestion in the midfield when possession of the ball. Rice's position was too high and he seemed a little uncomfortable. He also appeared inadvertently offside many times.

Bellingham kept cutting inside or pulling wide to find space, but the team's wing attack obviously lacked width, especially on the left side. In the second half, the team seemed to return to its regular system. When in possession of the ball, Stones would return to the center back position among the four backs, and O'Reilly would move forward to the midfielder, but he was not as frequent as Stones. Although the England team's performance in the second half cannot be said to be amazing, it was obviously more comfortable in executing tactics.

How did Kwanza perform in his debut?

Leaving Liverpool to join Leverkusen was a bold decision, and this challenge may help him win a spot in the World Cup. German coach Tuchel knows what it takes to establish himself in the Bundesliga, and Kuanza's performance this season has impressed Tuchel.

Kwansa usually plays as a central defender, but Tuchel chose to let him play as a right-back in his debut. This position is not completely unfamiliar to Kwansa: he has played this position many times during the Liverpool youth training period, and showing versatility to the national team coach is undoubtedly a plus.

However, in this game, Kwanza is not a right back in the traditional sense. When Stones comes forward, he will become one of the three backs. Tuchel has been looking for players with strong character, and Kuanza made his debut in a strange playing environment and a relatively unfamiliar position. This is undoubtedly a test of his will and quality. Tuchel also praised Kwansa's performance after the game.