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Should Bellingham aims to force his way back into England’s top starting eleven, he would be wise to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response after noticing that the substitute board was being shown following a night of inconsistency in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make England 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, received a caution for bringing down the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him because there was a chance Bellingham would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. There was no disguising the 22-year-old’s frustration as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but everything else was harmful to his cause. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the value of acting professionally.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the squad this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to his substitution as the side completed a ideal group stage by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on whether the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The performance was inconclusive. There was experimentation from the manager early on. He has provided England organization and direction in recent months, employing a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the use of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for his teammate after the break but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent at the beginning. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents followed he lost the ball cheaply. His booking came after he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner for Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. The coach approached from behind and directed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.