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For Bellingham to aims to fight his way once again into England’s strongest squad, the smart move to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was about to come up after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you need to comply being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team two goals ahead in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. 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 Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for a teammate. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake while heading to the touchline it was obvious that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to score his second goal, but the rest was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the value of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the fold recently. Essentially his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as England wrapped up a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on how the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested by the coach at the start. He has given the team organization and direction lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Wharton made his first start at this level and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze after the break but often looked overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England's play was messy for much of the second half. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a set-piece for Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was a little lost amid the drama of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard the player just yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.