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If Jude Bellingham aims to fight his way into the English top team, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it would have been unwise for the head coach to not substitute him considering there was a risk he would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He praised his teammate for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the importance of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

He, left out of last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on whether England function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided the team structure and clarity in recent months, using a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze after the break but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after an opponent took the ball to Broja and fouled Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Later Saka delivered a set-piece for Harry Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and guided the player to acknowledge the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon him at this stage. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage remains in doubt.