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For Bellingham to wants to force his way into the English best starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted when he saw that he was going up after a match of uneven play in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a tantrum. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it England two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him given that it was possible he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the World Cup by receiving a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment upon understanding that he would be substituted for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the bench it was clear that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the fold recently. In effect his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on how England perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager early on. He has given the team a clear system in recent months, employing a No 6, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the role of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze during the second half but at times seemed trying too hard. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking occurred when he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the role that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that set pieces will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and pushed Bellingham towards the English fans. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.