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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way into England’s top squad, it would be smart to do away with the nonsense. His reaction upon realizing that his number was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it England two goals ahead in an inconsequential qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it might have been reckless for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a risk he would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the player's disappointment as he realized that his replacement was ready for another player. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach was displeased.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the fold this month. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result the jury is out on if the squad perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach early on. Under him, England have gained England a clear system in recent months, employing a holding player, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the role of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for his teammate after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Foden, who looked more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. Later Saka provided a corner for Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided the player towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. However, whether the coach is prepared to give him centre stage is still uncertain.