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If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place back into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to cut out the nonsense. His response when he saw that the substitute board was being shown after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you must accept them when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a strop. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential qualifier, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on the Albanian striker. This was hardly a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a risk the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s frustration as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to score his second goal, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the necessity of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the squad recently. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the national team wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

It means opinions are divided on whether England function at their best when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach early on. He has given the team organization and direction over the past few matches, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but the approach changed in this match. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the role in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached behind him and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon him at this stage. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him centre stage is not guaranteed.