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Should Bellingham aims to earn his place back into England’s top squad, it would be smart to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was going up following a night of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not make more out of it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who come in," stated Tuchel. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, with only six minutes remaining and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on because there was a risk the midfielder would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the competition by picking up a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for a teammate. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the touchline it was clear that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to nod home his second goal, but the rest was self-defeating. It's not like complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the value of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny upon his return to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to being taken off as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

This implies it's unclear on if the team operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things by the coach at the start. He has given the team a clear system lately, using a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed versus Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, the midfielder was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of Stones as an auxiliary midfielder created a faint echo to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player early on. England's play was messy for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His caution came after he was dispossessed by Broja and brought down Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who looked better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka whipped in a corner kick for Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that set pieces will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel came over behind him and pushed Bellingham towards the travelling England fans. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel is not willing to abandon Bellingham yet. However, whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him the central position remains in doubt.