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If Jude Bellingham wants to fight his way into England’s strongest starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the nonsense. His response upon realizing that he was being shown following a night of mixed performance in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you need to comply when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had just put England 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and he, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a risk he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the World Cup by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the player's annoyance when he clocked that his replacement was ready for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the touchline it was clear that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the importance of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection upon his return to the team in the current camp. Practically he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a spirited effort from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

As a result it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad organization and direction in recent months, using a holding player, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time for England and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Foden, who looked better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner kick for Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that set pieces will be crucial next summer.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel walked up from behind and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the English fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to discard him at this stage. But if he is willing to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.