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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way into the English top squad, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. His response after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the teammates who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions leading by two in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and although he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to nod home the team's second, but everything else was self-defeating. It is not as if complaining was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the necessity of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the fold this month. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies opinions are divided on how England perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has given the squad a clear system lately, using a No 6, a No 8, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton made his first start for England and the role of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball to Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. Their connection is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard the player just yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.