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For Bellingham to aims to force his way once again into the English best starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted upon realizing that his number was about to come up after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the players who enter the game," stated Tuchel. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a questionable change. In fact it might have been reckless for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because it was possible the midfielder would be suspended of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for a teammate. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to nod home his second goal, but his other actions was self-defeating. It is not as if protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

He, left out of the team last month, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold this month. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to being taken off as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

It means the jury is out on how the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. The evidence here was inconclusive. There was experimentation from the manager in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the team organization and direction in recent months, employing a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time for England and the use of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eze after the break but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player early on. The team looked disjointed after halftime. An opportunity for Albania came after he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the bench quality was decisive. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who looked more comfortable to the role in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka provided a corner kick for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the substitution incident. At the end, all eyes were on him. Tuchel came over from behind and guided the player in the direction of the travelling England fans. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to abandon Bellingham yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role remains in doubt.