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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way back into England’s best starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after an evening of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team two goals ahead in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a risk the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the World Cup by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the player's annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the bench there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about following squad protocols and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, left out of the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the team this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

This implies the jury is out on if the team perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has given England a clear system lately, employing a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton made his first start internationally and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to City's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card came after he lost the ball by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a corner kick 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

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and pushed Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon the player just yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.