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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way into England’s best squad, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that he was about to come up following a night of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for an outburst. Kane had just put England 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been unwise for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench it was clear that the manager was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to score his second of the night, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to alter the decision. The German has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold recently. Practically he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours with his response to his substitution as the side completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

As a result opinions are divided on how England function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the team organization and direction lately, building with a No 6, a No 8, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared more naturally fitted to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka delivered a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. It highlighted that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for the second goal was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. The coach approached behind him and pushed the player towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.