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If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place once again into the English top starting eleven, he would be wise to cut out the dramatics. His response after noticing that he was being shown following a night of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the teammates who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Harry Kane had just put the national team leading by two in a meaningless fixture, with only six minutes remaining and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk Bellingham would be suspended of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention to Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the young midfielder's frustration as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that Tuchel was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the team in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on if England function at their best when Bellingham plays. What we saw was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the squad a clear system lately, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the use of the defender as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent at the beginning. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down Broja.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over from behind and directed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard the player just yet. Yet whether he is willing to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.