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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way once again into England’s best squad, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that his number was being shown following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the squad members who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. The captain had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in a meaningless fixture, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on the Albanian striker. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been foolish for the head coach to leave Bellingham on because it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the player's annoyance when he clocked that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline it was clear that the manager was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He praised Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the team in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

As a result opinions are divided on whether the team function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the squad a clear system in recent months, using a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but it felt different against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start for England and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent early on. England were ragged after halftime. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card came after he lost the ball by Broja and fouled the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the spot occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and directed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon the player just yet. However, whether the coach is prepared to give him centre stage is not guaranteed.