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For Bellingham to aims to earn his place back into the English best starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it England 2-0 up in a meaningless qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a chance the midfielder would rule himself out of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a second caution.

Drawing Attention to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to head in his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, not included in the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold recently. Essentially his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a ideal group stage by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means opinions are divided on how the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was open to interpretation. There was experimentation by the coach early on. He has given England structure and clarity over the past few matches, using a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the use of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a passing resemblance to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the spot occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost amid the drama of the player change. When the match concluded, everyone was watching him. The coach approached behind him and pushed the player towards the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. But if he is willing to give him the central position is not guaranteed.