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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way back into England’s strongest team, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had just put England two goals ahead in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a debatable decision. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him because it was possible the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by picking up a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the touchline it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to head in his second goal, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the fold this month. Practically he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to being taken off as the national team completed a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on whether England function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the squad structure and clarity lately, using a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eze after the break but often looked overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged for much of the second half. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the spot occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for the second goal was a little lost amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and guided the player to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.