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Should Bellingham aims to earn his place once again into England’s strongest starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the teammates who come in," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a strop. The captain had just put England two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's annoyance as he realized that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team recently. In effect he has been on trial and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the national team wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on whether England operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager early on. He has provided the team a clear system in recent months, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder started for the first time internationally and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. His booking occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and brought down Broja.

Substitutes Decide

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the position that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. In time Saka delivered a set-piece for Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and pushed Bellingham towards the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him the central position remains in doubt.