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Should Bellingham hopes to earn his place once again into the English best team, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the teammates who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Kane had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a debatable decision. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch because it was possible he would make himself ineligible of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was clear that the head coach was displeased.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He applauded Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to head in his second goal, but the rest was counterproductive. It's not like arguing was going to alter the decision. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the value of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, left out of last month’s squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the fold this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours with his response to his substitution as England wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on how England operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the role of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed trying too hard. Several hurried and errant passes. A pointless clash with a rival player at the beginning. The team looked disjointed after halftime. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed by Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally England’s depth was decisive. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the spot occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel came over from behind and pushed Bellingham towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him the central position remains in doubt.