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For Bellingham to wants to fight his way once again into the English strongest team, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was going up following a night of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England leading by two in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and he, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration as he realized that his replacement was ready for another player. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He praised Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, not included in the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the team in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, using a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Wharton made his first start internationally and the role of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but at times seemed trying too hard. Several rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution came after an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the role that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up from behind and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to offer him the central position remains in doubt.