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If Jude Bellingham aims to fight his way back into the English top squad, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that his number was being shown following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the players 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 an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that there was a chance Bellingham would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by receiving a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's annoyance as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It's not like arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, left out of the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the team this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours with his response to being taken off as the national team wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a feisty challenge from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on how England function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the team organization and direction in recent months, using a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for Eze after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and fouled the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the bench quality proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the spot that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka provided a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that set pieces will play a key role at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached to his side and guided the Real Madrid midfielder towards the English fans. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard him at this stage. But if Tuchel is inclined to grant him a starring role is still uncertain.