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Should Bellingham hopes to force his way once again into England’s top starting eleven, it would be smart to do away with the dramatics. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the teammates who come in," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make England leading by two in an inconsequential qualifier, 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 questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him given that there was a risk Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the tournament by receiving a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and while he accepted the coach's hand on his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to nod home the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the value of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has faced close inspection upon his return to the fold in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on whether the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team a clear system lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card occurred when an opponent took the ball from Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who seemed more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. The coach approached behind him and guided Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to discard the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role is still uncertain.