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If Jude Bellingham aims to earn his place once again into the English top squad, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that his number was about to come up following a night of uneven play in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who come in," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you must accept them as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in an inconsequential qualifier, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for bringing down an opponent. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Indeed it would have been unwise for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a chance the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus to Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's frustration when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. The German has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the previous squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the squad this month. Practically he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as the side completed a flawless qualification run by seeing off a feisty challenge from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on if England operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. He has provided the squad organization and direction in recent months, building with a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when an opponent took the ball to Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked better suited to the position in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner for Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that set pieces will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching him. The coach approached from behind and directed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.