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If Jude Bellingham hopes to earn his place back into England’s best starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His reaction after noticing that he was going up after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for an outburst. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless match, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the head coach to leave Bellingham on because it was possible Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the player's annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the sideline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to nod home the team's second, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

He, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the team recently. In effect his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from Albania.

The System and the Setup

It means the jury is out on if the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained England structure and clarity over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed too desperate to impress. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His booking occurred when an opponent took the ball from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked more naturally fitted to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that set pieces will be crucial at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel came over to his side and pushed the player towards the away supporters. Their connection is not broken. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to offer him the central position remains in doubt.