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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way into England’s top starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that his number was going up after an evening of mixed performance in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it England 2-0 up in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the World Cup by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance upon understanding that he would be substituted for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was not impressed.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second of the night, but his other actions was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

He, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully since coming back to the fold recently. In effect he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to being taken off as the national team completed a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on if the team operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England structure and clarity over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time for England and the use of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. He made many hurried and errant passes. A pointless clash against an opponent early on. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. His caution occurred when an opponent took the ball by Broja and fouled Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a corner for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was a little lost amid the drama of the substitution incident. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and guided the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. Yet whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.