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Should Bellingham hopes to earn his place back into England’s top starting eleven, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted after noticing that he was being shown following a night of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and he, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for bringing down an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it might have been reckless for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a chance the midfielder would rule himself out of the opening game of the World Cup by getting a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's frustration as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench it was obvious that the manager did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was harmful to his cause. 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 previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the fold this month. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on how England perform optimally including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from the manager in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction over the past few matches, using a holding player, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup at this level and the use of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but often looked trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the bench quality made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka delivered a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided the player in the direction of the away supporters. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.