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For Bellingham to wants to fight his way back into England’s top starting eleven, he would be wise to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that his number was going up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the competition by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake while heading to the bench it was obvious that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to head in the team's second, but his other actions was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the fold this month. Practically his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to being taken off as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on if the squad perform optimally when Bellingham plays. What we saw was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager early on. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity lately, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but at times seemed trying too hard. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution came after he was dispossessed to Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the spot in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that set pieces will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and directed the player towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.