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Should Bellingham wants to earn his place back into England’s strongest squad, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted when he saw that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of uneven play in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who come in," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had just put England two goals ahead in a meaningless fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. It was not a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance the midfielder would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by getting a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake while heading to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to head in his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

He, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection upon his return to the team this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to being taken off as the side wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on if the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has given the squad structure and clarity lately, using a No 6, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze in the latter period but at times seemed overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed better suited to the spot occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a set-piece for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, the focus was on 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, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided the Real Madrid midfielder towards the away supporters. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon him at this stage. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.