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If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place once again into England’s strongest team, it would be smart to cut out the dramatics. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the squad members who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you need to comply when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make the national team 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. In fact it might have been reckless for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that he was going to make way for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake while heading to the sideline it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to nod home the team's second, but his other actions was counterproductive. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the team this month. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side completed a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result the jury is out on if the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach at the start. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup for England and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player at the beginning. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card was shown after he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka provided a corner for Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that set pieces will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and directed the player towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage is not guaranteed.