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If Jude Bellingham aims to earn his place once again into England’s top team, the smart move to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that he was going up after a match of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. Kane had just put the national team leading by two in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the young midfielder's annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline it was obvious that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to nod home the team's second, but his other actions was self-defeating. There was no chance protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the fold in the current camp. In effect he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on how the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel at the start. He has given the squad organization and direction lately, using a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the use of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. The team looked disjointed after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His caution came after he lost the ball to Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was a little lost amid the drama of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached behind him and pushed Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to discard the player just yet. Yet whether he is willing to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.