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If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place back into England’s top team, it would be smart to do away with the nonsense. His reaction when he saw that he was being shown following a night of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that it was possible the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the World Cup by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for a teammate. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the bench it was clear that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold this month. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a flawless qualification run by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

It means the jury is out on whether England function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach early on. He has given the team structure and clarity in recent months, building with a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to City's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eze in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka whipped in a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel came over from behind and directed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to give up on the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.