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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way into the English strongest starting eleven, it would be smart to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that the substitute board was going up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England leading by two in a dead rubber fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by receiving a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's frustration as he realized that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench it was clear that Tuchel was not impressed.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to score his second goal, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team recently. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours with his response to coming off the pitch as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

It means opinions are divided on how the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. He has given England structure and clarity over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but often looked too desperate to impress. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham squandered possession. His caution came after he was dispossessed by Broja and brought down Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality proved crucial. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka delivered a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will be crucial at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. The coach approached from behind and guided the player towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.