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Should Bellingham aims to earn his place once again into England’s best team, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. His reaction after noticing that his number was being shown after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you must accept them as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, there were six minutes left and he, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it might have been reckless for the head coach to leave Bellingham on given that there was a risk he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the competition by getting a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance as he realized that his replacement was ready for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but his other actions was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. The German has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the squad recently. In effect he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to being taken off as England rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result it's unclear on whether the squad function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained the team organization and direction in recent months, using a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup for England and the role of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he lost the ball by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the spot in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Later Saka delivered a set-piece for Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for the second goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and directed Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard him at this stage. However, whether he is willing to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.