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If Jude Bellingham aims to fight his way back into the English strongest team, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. His response when he saw that he was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who come in," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it England two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. In fact it would have been foolish for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and although he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad in the current camp. In effect his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result it's unclear on whether England function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation by the coach early on. He has given England a clear system over the past few matches, employing a No 6, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the role of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents followed he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who looked more comfortable to the spot occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka delivered a corner kick for Harry Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and pushed the player towards the away supporters. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.