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For Bellingham to hopes to force his way into England’s top starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that his number was going up following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. The captain had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in an inconsequential fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s annoyance upon understanding that he would be substituted for a teammate. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the touchline it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for Kane to score his second goal, but his other actions was counterproductive. It's not like complaining was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the importance of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the squad recently. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a spirited effort from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on whether England function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was inconclusive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. He has given England structure and clarity over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for his teammate after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared more naturally fitted to the position that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will be crucial next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. The coach approached from behind and guided the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. Yet whether he is willing to give him the central position is not guaranteed.