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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way into England’s best starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that he was about to come up after an evening of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the squad members who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential qualifier, there were six minutes left and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on given that there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. The German has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the importance of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team this month. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours with his response to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on whether the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction lately, building with a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for his teammate in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash against an opponent in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that set pieces will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over to his side and pushed the player in the direction of the away supporters. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon him at this stage. But if he is willing to give him the central position is still uncertain.