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For Bellingham to hopes to force his way into England’s strongest starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. His response after noticing that his number was being shown after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make England two goals ahead in a meaningless match, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the player's annoyance when he clocked that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for Kane to nod home his second of the night, but his other actions was counterproductive. It's not like arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, not included in 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 he has not done himself any favours by reacting to being taken off as England completed a flawless qualification run by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies the jury is out on whether the team perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The performance was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided the squad a clear system in recent months, building with a No 6, a central midfielder, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start at this level and the positioning of John Stones as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was faint echo to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but at times seemed overly eager to shine. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player early on. England were ragged during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed from Broja and fouled the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who looked more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka provided a corner for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that set pieces are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. At the end, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and directed Bellingham to acknowledge the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to abandon Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.