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For Bellingham to hopes to fight his way into the English strongest squad, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that the substitute board was about to come up following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you need to comply when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless match, there were six minutes left and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Indeed it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a risk Bellingham would be suspended of the first match of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and even though he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the touchline it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He praised his teammate for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad recently. Practically his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by defeating a feisty challenge from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means it's unclear on whether the team function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad a clear system over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time for England and the role of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for his teammate during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. England's play was messy after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that set pieces will be crucial next summer.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the player change. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role is still uncertain.