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If Jude Bellingham wants to fight his way back into England’s strongest team, it would be smart to cut out the dramatics. His response after noticing that he was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who enter the game," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering it was possible Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was self-defeating. It is not as if arguing was going to alter the decision. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on how the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach early on. Under him, England have gained the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, employing a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the use of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent early on. The team looked disjointed after halftime. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card occurred when an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and guided the Real Madrid midfielder towards the English fans. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. But if he is willing to give him centre stage is still uncertain.