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Should Bellingham aims to force his way into the English best team, the smart move to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His reaction when he saw that his number was going up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for a strop. Kane had only moments earlier made it England 2-0 up in an inconsequential fixture, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for Tuchel to not substitute him considering there was a chance the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the competition by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the young midfielder's annoyance when he clocked that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the touchline it was obvious that the head coach was displeased.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to nod home the team's second, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It is not as if complaining was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the value of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

The midfielder, left out of last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the team this month. Essentially his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case with his response to his substitution as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on if the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager early on. He has provided England structure and clarity lately, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder started for the first time internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a similar look to the Manchester club'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 overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card was shown after an opponent took the ball by Broja and committed a foul on the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel threw on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel came over behind him and directed Bellingham towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard Bellingham yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to give him the central position is not guaranteed.