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Should Bellingham aims to earn his place back into England’s strongest starting eleven, he would be wise to cut out the nonsense. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions leading by two in a meaningless fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Indeed it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by picking up a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s annoyance when he clocked that he was going to make way for a teammate. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was not impressed.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He praised his teammate for delivering the cross for the captain to score his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to being taken off as the national team completed a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

As a result it's unclear on if the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager early on. He has provided the squad organization and direction lately, building with a No 6, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but at times seemed overly eager to shine. Several rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash against an opponent at the beginning. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking came after he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the bench quality made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching him. The coach approached to his side and directed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to give him the central position is still uncertain.