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For Bellingham to wants to earn his place back into the English top squad, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His response when he saw that he was being shown after an evening of inconsistency in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the teammates who come in," stated Tuchel. "Choices are taken and you need to comply being a professional."

There is a lesson for Bellingham. There was no need for an outburst. Harry Kane had just put the Three Lions two goals ahead in an inconsequential match, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a controversial substitution. Indeed it might have been reckless for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that it was possible he would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the tournament by getting a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment as he realized that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the bench there was no doubt that the manager was not impressed.

This is the challenge that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for the captain to score his second of the night, but his other actions was counterproductive. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, left out of the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the team in the current camp. Essentially his place has been in question and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as England completed a flawless qualification run by seeing off a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

This implies it's unclear on how the team operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The performance was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested by the coach early on. He has given England structure and clarity in recent months, using a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was given his first cap, Wharton started for the first time internationally and the positioning of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a faint echo to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He set up a shot for Eberechi Eze after the break but at times seemed overly eager to shine. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with a rival player early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania followed Bellingham gave the ball away. His booking occurred when he lost the ball by Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Finally the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the position that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. In time Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital next summer.

Relationship Not Broken

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was a little lost due to the fuss of the player change. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel came over to his side and guided the player in the direction of the English fans. Their relationship is not broken. Tuchel hasn't decided to give up on the player just yet. But if he is willing to offer him the central position remains in doubt.