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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way once again into England’s strongest squad, it would be smart to do away with the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team 2-0 up in a meaningless match, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by picking up a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment when he clocked that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the bench it was obvious that the manager was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to head in his second of the night, but the rest was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

He, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the squad this month. Essentially he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means it's unclear on how England function at their best including Bellingham. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. He has provided England structure and clarity in recent months, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eze in the latter period but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. An opportunity for Albania followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution occurred when he lost the ball from Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka delivered a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, the focus was on him. The coach approached behind him and directed Bellingham towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to give up on him at this stage. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.