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For Bellingham to wants to force his way back into England’s top squad, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction when he saw that the substitute board was going up after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no call for a tantrum. Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling an opponent. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it might have been reckless for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a chance Bellingham would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by picking up a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment as he realized that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline it was clear that Tuchel was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He praised his teammate for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the fold this month. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a feisty challenge from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

This implies the jury is out on how the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. What we saw was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the squad structure and clarity lately, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but it felt different versus Albania. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time at this level and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to City's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card was shown after an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the bench quality proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and directed the player in the direction of the English fans. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.