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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way back into the English best squad, it would be smart to cut out the dramatics. His response after noticing that the substitute board was being shown after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you must accept them when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions leading by two in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and the player, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for the manager to not substitute him given that there was a risk he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Drawing Attention to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the player's annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the bench it was clear that the manager was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team wrapped up a ideal group stage by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means opinions are divided on whether the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity lately, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel versus Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup at this level and the positioning of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that set pieces will be crucial at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and directed the player to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their connection is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.