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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way once again into England’s best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the teammates who come in," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down an opponent. It was not a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for the manager to leave Bellingham on because there was a chance he would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the player's disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach was displeased.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. It is not as if complaining was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

He, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to his substitution as the side completed a ideal group stage by defeating a feisty challenge from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on how the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach in the beginning. He has given the team a clear system in recent months, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the role of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy after halftime. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball to Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. Tuchel came over to his side and directed the player towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him centre stage remains in doubt.