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Should Bellingham aims to force his way back into England’s best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that his number was going up after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the players who come in," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Kane had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for fouling an opponent. It was not a questionable change. In fact it might have been reckless for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering it was possible Bellingham would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the World Cup by getting a second caution.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the player's annoyance upon understanding that he would be substituted for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline it was clear that the manager did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded his teammate for delivering the cross for Kane to head in the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. It is not as if complaining was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The German has repeatedly emphasized respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

Bellingham, left out of the previous squad, has been under scrutiny since coming back to the team recently. In effect he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by overcoming a spirited effort from Albania.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on how the squad function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation by the coach early on. He has given the team a clear system over the past few matches, employing a holding player, a No 8, a playmaker and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton was in the starting lineup for England and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to City's team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He set up a shot for his teammate during the second half but frequently appeared too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who looked more comfortable to the spot in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner for Kane to score the first goal. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. At the end, the focus was on him. Tuchel walked up to his side and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the away supporters. The bond between them remains intact. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on the player just yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.