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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way into England’s strongest squad, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was going up after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team two goals ahead in a dead rubber fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on the Albanian striker. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a risk Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for delivering the cross for Kane to nod home the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

As a result the jury is out on how the squad function at their best when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach at the start. He has provided the squad a clear system over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the use of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate after the break but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. England's play was messy for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card came after he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the role that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and guided the player to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. However, whether the coach is prepared to give him the central position is not guaranteed.