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If Jude Bellingham wants to force his way into England’s top squad, it would be smart to eliminate the nonsense. The way he reacted upon realizing that he was going up after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for an outburst. Harry Kane had just put England leading by two in a dead rubber qualifier, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Drawing Attention to Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the player's annoyance when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the bench it was obvious that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the fold recently. Essentially he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a feisty challenge from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies the jury is out on whether the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided England organization and direction in recent months, building with a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed against Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the use of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player early on. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and fouled the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached to his side and guided the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role remains in doubt.