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For Bellingham to hopes to earn his place once again into England’s top squad, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. The way he reacted after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the squad members who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you need to comply when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. The captain had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber match, there were six minutes left and he, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for bringing down an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a risk he would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus to Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for Kane to head in his second goal, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It is not as if complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad recently. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to being taken off as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on how the team function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team a clear system in recent months, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the use of John Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a faint echo to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eze after the break but at times seemed overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking was shown after an opponent took the ball by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who seemed more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. At the end, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.