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For Bellingham to wants to force his way once again into England’s top squad, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you must accept them being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a tantrum. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England leading by two in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a chance Bellingham would be suspended of the initial fixture of the World Cup by receiving a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s frustration as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and although he exchanged a handshake on his way to the bench there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully after returning to the team in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to his substitution as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

It means it's unclear on if the squad function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction over the past few matches, using a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the role of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. England were ragged after halftime. One Albania chance came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card came after he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the spot occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over from behind and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the English fans. Their relationship remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.