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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way once again into England’s best squad, he would be wise to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was going up following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a tantrum. The captain had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on the Albanian striker. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance he would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the player's disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the bench it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the necessity of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return 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 England completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on if the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was not definitive. There was experimentation by the coach in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction over the past few matches, using a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the positioning of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eze after the break but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that set pieces will play a key role next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the player to acknowledge the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position is not guaranteed.