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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way into the English best squad, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. The way he reacted when he saw that he was going up following a night of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the squad members who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Harry Kane had just put the Three Lions two goals ahead in a dead rubber qualifier, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, received a caution for fouling Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a risk he would make himself ineligible of the initial fixture of the competition by picking up a another booking.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. There was no disguising the player's frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. He threw his arms up and although he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the bench it was obvious that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to score his second goal, but the rest was harmful to his cause. It is not as if protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully since coming back to the team recently. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the side completed a ideal group stage by seeing off a feisty challenge from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

As a result opinions are divided on how the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel early on. Under him, England have gained the team organization and direction lately, building with a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze during the second half but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder early on. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed to Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka provided a corner for Harry Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching him. Tuchel walked up from behind and directed the player to acknowledge the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.