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For Bellingham to aims to earn his place back into England’s strongest squad, the smart move to do away with the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was going up after a match of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the squad members who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. Kane had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the opening game of the World Cup by receiving a second caution.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's frustration upon understanding that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was clear that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but everything else was harmful to his cause. It is not as if protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad this month. In effect he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

It means the jury is out on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from the manager in the beginning. He has provided England a clear system over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time at this level and the positioning of Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to City's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eze after the break but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the position in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up to his side and pushed the player towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him the central position remains in doubt.