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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way back into the English best team, he would be wise to do away with the nonsense. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the players who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for an outburst. The captain had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on given that there was a chance he would rule himself out of the first match of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration upon understanding that he would be substituted for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was obvious that the manager was displeased.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second goal, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold this month. Essentially his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

This implies it's unclear on if the squad operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad a clear system lately, building with a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze after the break but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player at the beginning. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and fouled Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who seemed more naturally fitted to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka provided a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted 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 brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the player to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. But if he is willing to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.