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For Bellingham to wants to earn his place back into the English best starting eleven, it would be smart to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that he was being shown after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who come in," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. Harry Kane had just put the national team leading by two in a meaningless qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on given that there was a chance he would be suspended of the first match of the competition by getting a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's frustration upon understanding that he would be substituted for another player. He threw his arms up and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline it was obvious that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to score his second goal, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the squad this month. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

As a result it's unclear on if the team function at their best with Bellingham in the team. The performance was open to interpretation. There was experimentation from Tuchel at the start. He has provided the squad structure and clarity in recent months, building with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed against Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start for England and the use of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for his teammate after the break but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several poorly executed passes. A pointless clash against an opponent early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up from behind and directed Bellingham towards the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon him at this stage. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.