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If Jude Bellingham aims to force his way into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to cut out the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that he was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the players who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make England 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on Armando Broja. It was not a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible Bellingham would be suspended of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It's not like arguing was going to alter the decision. The German has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the importance of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the squad in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by overcoming a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on how the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the positioning of the defender as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eze after the break but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash against an opponent at the beginning. England were ragged during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka provided a set-piece for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was partly forgotten amid the drama of the player change. At the end, the focus was on him. The coach approached behind him and pushed Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. Yet whether the coach is prepared to give him centre stage is still uncertain.