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Should Bellingham wants to force his way back into England’s top squad, the smart move to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who come in," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you must accept them when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had only moments earlier made it England 2-0 up in an inconsequential qualifier, there were six minutes left and the player, after a below-par performance, was just shown a yellow for a foul on an opponent. This was hardly a debatable decision. Indeed it might have been reckless for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the World Cup by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand after making his way to the touchline there was no doubt that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to nod home his second of the night, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the necessity of behaving correctly.

Facing Examination

He, not included in the previous squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad recently. Essentially his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours through his behavior to his substitution as England wrapped up a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a feisty challenge from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on how the squad operate most effectively with Bellingham in the team. The performance was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given the team structure and clarity over the past few matches, employing a holding player, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed in this match. Jarell Quansah was handed his international debut, the midfielder was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of the defender as a part-time midfielder meant there was faint echo to City's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but often looked overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with an Albania midfielder in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution came after he lost the ball to Broja and fouled the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who appeared better suited to the spot occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for Kane to open the scoring. It was a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. Tuchel came over behind him and pushed the player to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to discard him at this stage. However, whether he is willing to offer him the central position remains in doubt.