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If Jude Bellingham hopes to fight his way back into the English top starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the dramatics. His response after noticing that the substitute board was going up following a night of uneven play in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. The captain had just put England two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, there were six minutes left and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance Bellingham would rule himself out of the first match of the competition by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward 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 while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline it was clear that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as England wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

As a result it's unclear on if England perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad structure and clarity over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the use of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball from Broja and fouled the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who looked more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Saka. In time Saka provided a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. At the end, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and directed Bellingham to acknowledge the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.