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For Bellingham to wants to fight his way into England’s strongest team, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that he was about to come up after an evening of mixed performance in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the squad members who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it England two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. In fact it would have been foolish for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a chance he would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and while he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the touchline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to nod home the team's second, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the value of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

He, not included in last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as the side wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a tough opposition from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on if the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager at the start. He has given the squad structure and clarity lately, building with a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton made his first start at this level and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England were ragged after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking came after he lost the ball by 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 Foden, who looked better suited to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over to his side and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on Bellingham yet. But if he is willing to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.