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Should Bellingham wants to force his way back into England’s top squad, it would be smart to cut out the dramatics. His response when he saw that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you need to comply when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had just put England leading by two in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Indeed it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on because there was a chance Bellingham would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by picking up a second caution.

Drawing Attention on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and although he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the sideline there was no doubt that the head coach was displeased.

Here lies the test for Bellingham. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the value of behaving correctly.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully upon his return to the team in the current camp. In effect he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team wrapped up a ideal group stage by seeing off a tough opposition from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result it's unclear on how the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager at the start. He has provided the squad a clear system lately, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze after the break but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card came after he was dispossessed by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who appeared more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. At the end, all eyes were on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to offer him the central position remains in doubt.