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If Jude Bellingham wants to fight his way back into the English top squad, it would be smart to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. Kane had just put the Three Lions leading by two in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. It was not a questionable change. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that it was possible he would rule himself out of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and while he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline it was obvious that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It is not as if protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, not included in last month’s squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the squad in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the national team rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a tough opposition from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result opinions are divided on how England perform optimally when Bellingham plays. What we saw was inconclusive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. He has provided the team structure and clarity lately, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time for England and the role of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for his teammate after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking was shown after he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel introduced Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. The coach approached to his side and directed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to grant him centre stage remains in doubt.