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For Bellingham to hopes to fight his way back into the English top squad, he would be wise to do away with the nonsense. The way he reacted when he saw that his number was being shown after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, there were six minutes left and the player, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the initial fixture of the World Cup by getting a second caution.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for sending in the ball for the captain to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully since coming back to the squad this month. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as the national team wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on how the team perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was not definitive. There was experimentation by the coach early on. He has given England organization and direction over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder was in the starting lineup internationally and the role of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance 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 overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent at the beginning. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for the second goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, the focus was on him. Tuchel came over from behind and guided the player in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to give him the central position is still uncertain.