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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way back into England’s best team, it would be smart to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that he was being shown following a night of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the teammates who enter the game," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in a dead rubber match, with only six minutes remaining and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a risk he would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by receiving a another booking.

Shifting Focus to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake on his way to the bench it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was counterproductive. It's not like complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

This implies opinions are divided on if the team perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team organization and direction in recent months, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time for England and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player at the beginning. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. His caution came after an opponent took the ball to Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka delivered a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over from behind and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not broken. The coach isn't ready to discard him at this stage. However, whether he is willing to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.