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Should Bellingham wants to earn his place into the English top squad, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. His response upon realizing that his number was about to come up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and respect for the teammates who come in," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. It was unnecessary for an outburst. Kane had only moments earlier made it England leading by two in a meaningless fixture, the game had six minutes to go and the player, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for fouling an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. Actually it would have been foolish for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible he would rule himself out of the first match of the competition by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the young midfielder's annoyance as he realized that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and although he exchanged a handshake on his way to the bench there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to nod home his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It is not as if arguing was going to change Tuchel’s mind. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

He, omitted from the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to being taken off as the national team completed a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result it's unclear on whether the squad perform optimally when Bellingham plays. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from the manager at the start. Under him, England have gained the team structure and clarity over the past few matches, building with a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel versus Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start at this level and the positioning of the defender as a part-time midfielder created a similar look to City's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. England's play was messy during most of the second period. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel threw on Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel came over to his side and guided Bellingham in the direction of the away supporters. Their connection is not damaged. Tuchel hasn't decided to discard him at this stage. But if Tuchel is inclined to give him centre stage is not guaranteed.