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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way into the English top starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of uneven play in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been foolish for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that there was a risk the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance upon understanding that he was going to make way for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. It is not as if complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, left out of the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to his substitution as the national team wrapped up a ideal group stage by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on how the squad perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has given England structure and clarity in recent months, employing a No 6, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start at this level and the use of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching him. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed Bellingham to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to give him the central position is not guaranteed.