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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way into England’s best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that he was being shown following a night of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the squad members who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made 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. The captain had only moments earlier made it the national team 2-0 up in a meaningless match, with only six minutes remaining and the player, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for a foul on the Albanian striker. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk he would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. He threw his arms up and while he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline it was clear that the head coach was displeased.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for delivering the cross for Kane to score his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team in the current camp. In effect his place has been in question and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to his substitution as the national team rounded off a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

As a result opinions are divided on how the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained England structure and clarity over the past few matches, using a No 6, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different in this match. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time for England and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder gave a faint echo to City's historic treble-winning side.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after he lost the ball cheaply. His booking occurred when an opponent took the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who looked better suited to the spot occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and guided the player towards the English fans. The bond between them is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on the player just yet. Yet whether he is willing to offer him the central position is not guaranteed.