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Should Bellingham wants to force his way back into the English best squad, he would be wise to cut out the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the players who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and he, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Indeed it might have been reckless for the head coach to not substitute him considering there was a risk the midfielder would make himself ineligible of the first match of the competition by picking up a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention to Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the bench it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to nod home his second goal, but the rest was counterproductive. There was no chance complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the value of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection upon his return to the fold this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on how the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from the manager early on. Under him, England have gained England a clear system lately, building with a holding player, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the positioning of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents came after he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka provided a corner for Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. After the final whistle, the focus was on Bellingham. The coach approached behind him and pushed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. Their connection is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to abandon him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.