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For Bellingham to wants to fight his way once again into the English strongest team, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. His response upon realizing that his number was going up after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. The captain had just put the national team two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a risk he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while he exchanged a handshake while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to alter the decision. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, not included in the previous squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the squad this month. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to being taken off as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on how England perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different in this match. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder started for the first time at this level and the role of Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent early on. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka delivered a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and guided Bellingham in the direction of the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.