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If Jude Bellingham hopes to force his way into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction upon realizing that his number was about to come up after a match of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the squad members who come in," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Harry Kane had just put England 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the competition by picking up a second caution.

Drawing Attention on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's annoyance as he realized that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. The German has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the team in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result the jury is out on how the team perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach at the start. He has given the squad a clear system lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was similar look to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared trying too hard. Several rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash against an opponent early on. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card came after an opponent took the ball to Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the bench quality made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and guided the player towards the travelling England fans. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. However, whether he is willing to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.