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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way into England’s top starting eleven, he would be wise to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber match, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for the manager to not substitute him considering there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the bench it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to head in his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the value of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully since coming back to the fold this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case with his response to his substitution as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided the team a clear system lately, using a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of the defender as a makeshift midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent at the beginning. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card came after he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who appeared more comfortable to the role in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the player change. At the end, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and directed the player to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position is not guaranteed.