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Should Bellingham wants to force his way into England’s strongest team, it would be smart to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that he was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. It was not a debatable decision. Actually it would have been foolish for the head coach to not substitute him because there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance when he clocked that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while 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 facing Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score his second goal, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

He, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully since coming back to the team this month. Practically his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by overcoming a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on if the squad perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained England a clear system in recent months, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the use of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel introduced Foden, who seemed better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka provided a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached behind him and pushed Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to give up on him at this stage. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.