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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way into the English top team, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. His reaction when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up following a night of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make England 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, with only six minutes remaining and he, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for bringing down the Albanian striker. It was not a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the World Cup by picking up a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and although he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline there was no doubt that Tuchel was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has faced close inspection since coming back to the fold this month. Essentially he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. He has provided the team structure and clarity lately, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was similar look to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for Eze after the break but often looked trying too hard. Several rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he was dispossessed to Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who seemed more naturally fitted to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka whipped in a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. The coach approached from behind and directed the player in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.