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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way into England’s strongest starting eleven, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that the substitute board was going up after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the squad members who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and he, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for fouling Armando Broja. It was not a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for delivering the cross for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the importance of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the squad this month. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on how the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. He has given England a clear system over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a faint echo to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. England were ragged for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka delivered a set-piece for the captain to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, the focus was on him. The coach approached from behind and guided the player towards the away supporters. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.