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If Jude Bellingham hopes to fight his way into the English top team, it would be smart to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that his number was being shown after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the players who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a strop. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him given that it was possible the midfielder would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but his other actions was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team this month. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result opinions are divided on whether the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel at the start. He has given the squad structure and clarity in recent months, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time at this level and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged for much of the second half. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card occurred when he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the English fans. Their connection is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on him at this stage. However, whether he is willing to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.