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Should Bellingham wants to force his way once again into the English top team, he would be wise to do away with the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that he was going up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the players who come in," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a strop. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in a meaningless qualifier, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Indeed it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him given that there was a chance he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s annoyance when he clocked that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He applauded Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to head in his second of the night, but the rest was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully since coming back to the team in the current camp. In effect his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the side wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies the jury is out on whether the team perform optimally when Bellingham plays. What we saw was inconclusive. There was experimentation by the coach at the start. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity in recent months, building with a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the use of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a passing resemblance to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham had ups and downs. 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 in the early stages. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and fouled the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel introduced Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka provided a corner for Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. At the end, the focus was on him. The coach approached behind him and guided Bellingham towards the away supporters. Their relationship remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage is still uncertain.