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Should Bellingham aims to force his way once again into the English strongest team, it would be smart to cut out the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted after noticing that his number was being shown after a match of inconsistency 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 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you must accept them when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for fouling an opponent. It was not a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for the head coach to not substitute him because there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by receiving a second caution.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. No one could overlook the player's annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and while he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge facing Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to head in his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. Tuchel has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the squad in the current camp. Practically his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to his substitution as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

This implies the jury is out on if England function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the squad a clear system lately, employing a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and specialist wingers, but it felt different against Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, the midfielder made his first start at this level and the positioning of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a similar look to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

Mixed Performance

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but often looked overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution was shown after an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally England’s depth made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka provided a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford’s assist for the second goal was somewhat overlooked in the ridiculousness of the Rogers substitution. At the end, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel walked up from behind and guided the Real Madrid midfielder to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their connection is not broken. The coach isn't ready to discard the player just yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is still uncertain.