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For Bellingham to wants to fight his way back into England’s best starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the nonsense. His response when he saw that the substitute board was being shown following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. Harry Kane had just put the Three Lions leading by two in a meaningless match, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for the head coach to not substitute him because it was possible the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the World Cup by getting a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’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 after making his way to the bench it was obvious that the manager was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for providing the assist for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to alter the decision. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the fold recently. Practically his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result the jury is out on how the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. Under him, England have gained the squad structure and clarity lately, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. The young defender was given his first cap, Wharton made his first start internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, the focus was on him. The coach approached to his side and guided the player to acknowledge the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. However, whether he is willing to give him the central position remains in doubt.