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For Bellingham to aims to force his way back into the English strongest starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the dramatics. His response when he saw that his number was being shown after a match of mixed performance in Tirana was not good enough.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had only moments earlier made it the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to leave Bellingham on given that it was possible he would be suspended of the first match of the tournament by picking up a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham drew all eyes toward himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s frustration when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. He flung his arms in the air and although he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He praised Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the squad recently. Practically he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to his substitution as the side rounded off a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a tough opposition from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means it's unclear on how England function at their best including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. There was experimentation from the manager at the start. He has given the squad organization and direction over the past few matches, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel against Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, the midfielder made his first start for England and the use of John Stones as a part-time midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. Several hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced the Manchester City player, who looked more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that set pieces are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford’s assist for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up behind him and directed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to abandon Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to give him the central position is still uncertain.