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Should Bellingham hopes to fight his way into the English top team, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that he was about to come up following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players 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 need for a strop. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in an inconsequential fixture, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, was just shown a yellow for a foul on the Albanian striker. It was not a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been unwise for the head coach to leave Bellingham on because it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the initial fixture of the competition by receiving a another booking.

Drawing Attention on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the touchline it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for sending in the ball for Kane to head in the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance arguing was going to alter the decision. The coach has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, not included in last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny after returning to the squad this month. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

As a result opinions are divided on if the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The evidence here was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained the squad a clear system in recent months, using a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start at this level and the role of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Squad Strength Shows

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. The coach brought on the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for the captain to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching him. The coach approached from behind and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to discard the player just yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him a starring role is not guaranteed.