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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way into England’s strongest starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the nonsense. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the squad members who come in," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, the game had six minutes to go and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a debatable decision. Actually it might have been reckless for the head coach to not substitute him given that there was a risk the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for a teammate. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He praised his teammate for sending in the ball for the captain to head in his second of the night, but his other actions was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection upon his return to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to being taken off as England rounded off a flawless qualification run by seeing off a spirited effort from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on if the team operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation by the coach at the start. He has provided England organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for his teammate during the second half but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent at the beginning. England were ragged during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a set-piece for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and directed the player to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on him at this stage. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him a starring role is not guaranteed.