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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way back into England’s top team, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the teammates who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for the manager to not substitute him given that it was possible the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the player's annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the bench there was no doubt that the head coach was displeased.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for sending in the ball for the captain to score his second goal, but his other actions was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to being taken off as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach at the start. He has given the team structure and clarity over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Wharton made his first start at this level and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eze after the break but at times seemed overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card came after he lost the ball to Broja and fouled the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. Eventually Saka provided a set-piece for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel came over to his side and pushed the player in the direction of the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if he is willing to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.