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If Jude Bellingham hopes to fight his way back into England’s top starting eleven, the smart move to do away with the dramatics. The way he reacted when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of uneven play in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the squad members who come in," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for bringing down an opponent. It was not a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because it was possible Bellingham would rule himself out of the opening game of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Drawing Attention on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and even though he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the touchline it was obvious that the head coach was displeased.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to head in his second goal, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It is not as if complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on how England function at their best when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. He has given the team a clear system in recent months, employing a No 6, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a similar look to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. The team looked disjointed after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who seemed more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. Later Saka provided a corner for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for the second goal was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and directed Bellingham to acknowledge the away supporters. Their relationship is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.