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Should Bellingham aims to force his way back into the English best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the squad members who substitute on," 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. Kane had recently scored to make the national team 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it might have been reckless for the head coach to not substitute him given that it was possible Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus to Himself

But Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the player's frustration upon understanding that he was going to make way for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the bench there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

This is the challenge for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to head in his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. It's not like arguing was going to alter the decision. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Under Scrutiny

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the team this month. In effect his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him by reacting to being taken off as the side wrapped up a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on whether the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel at the start. He has provided the team structure and clarity lately, using a No 6, a box-to-box player, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but the approach changed versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time at this level and the role of Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to the Manchester club's historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He created an opportunity for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed trying too hard. He made many hurried and errant passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent early on. England were ragged for much of the second half. One Albania chance followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and fouled Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital at the World Cup.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for the second goal was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the player in the direction of the English fans. Their relationship is not damaged. Tuchel is not willing to discard him at this stage. Yet whether he is willing to grant him the central position is not guaranteed.