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Should Bellingham aims to earn his place back into England’s top starting eleven, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was going up after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a meaningless match, the game had six minutes to go and he, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. It was not a questionable change. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on given that there was a risk the midfielder would be suspended of the initial fixture of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s frustration upon understanding that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to head in his second goal, but his other actions was self-defeating. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

He, left out of the previous squad, has faced close inspection since coming back to the squad this month. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case with his response to his substitution as England completed a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

This implies opinions are divided on if the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The performance was inconclusive. There was experimentation by the coach early on. He has given the squad structure and clarity over the past few matches, employing a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy after halftime. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. His booking was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel threw on Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to score the first goal. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. At the end, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and directed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to discard the player just yet. However, whether he is willing to give him the central position remains in doubt.