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For Bellingham to wants to force his way into England’s top team, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. His response after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of uneven play in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless match, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering it was possible he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him with his response to coming off the pitch as the side rounded off a flawless qualification run by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on how the team function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. He has given England structure and clarity over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the role of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. Several hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player early on. England's play was messy after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card came after he was dispossessed from Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked more naturally fitted to the spot occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up to his side and guided the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on him at this stage. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him the central position is still uncertain.