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Should Bellingham hopes to earn his place into England’s strongest squad, he would be wise to cut out the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was going up following a night of uneven play in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had just put England leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for fouling Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. In fact it might have been reckless for the head coach to leave Bellingham on because it was possible Bellingham would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the sideline it was obvious that the head coach was displeased.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to head in the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has talked so much about following squad protocols and the value of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, left out of the previous squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team this month. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to his substitution as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a spirited effort from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on if the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. There was experimentation by the coach in the beginning. He has given the team structure and clarity lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, Wharton made his first start at this level and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for his teammate after the break but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the role that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a set-piece for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel came over from behind and pushed Bellingham in the direction of the travelling England fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to discard him at this stage. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role remains in doubt.