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For Bellingham to hopes to earn his place once again into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to do away with the nonsense. His response after noticing that the substitute board was being shown following a night of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the players who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for an outburst. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England leading by two in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for the manager to not substitute him considering there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. There was no chance arguing was going to alter the decision. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, not included in last month’s squad, has faced close inspection upon his return to the squad recently. Essentially he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to being taken off as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. He has given the squad a clear system over the past few matches, building with a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the use of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder gave a faint echo to City's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player early on. England's play was messy after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents came after he lost the ball cheaply. His caution was shown after he lost the ball to Broja and fouled Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the spot in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over behind him and pushed the player towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him the central position remains in doubt.