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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way back into the English strongest starting eleven, it would be smart to cut out the dramatics. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was being shown following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who come in," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had just put England leading by two in a dead rubber 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 debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team recently. Essentially his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on whether England perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different in this match. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking occurred when an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to score the first goal. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, all eyes were on him. Tuchel walked up behind him and guided the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him the central position remains in doubt.