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For Bellingham to wants to force his way back into the English top squad, he would be wise to do away with the unnecessary reactions. His reaction upon realizing that the substitute board was going up after a match of inconsistency in Tirana was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for an outburst. The captain had recently scored to make England two goals ahead in a meaningless match, with only six minutes remaining and the player, after a below-par performance, received a caution for bringing down Armando Broja. This could scarcely be called a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for the head coach to not substitute him because there was a chance Bellingham would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight Upon Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that he was going to make way for another player. He threw his arms up and while he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline it was clear that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Marcus Rashford for providing the assist for Kane to head in his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

He, not included in the team last month, has been under scrutiny after returning to the squad 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 wrapped up a ideal group stage by overcoming a feisty challenge from their opponents.

Tactics and Formation

As a result the jury is out on whether England function at their best including Bellingham. What we saw was not definitive. There was experimentation from Tuchel early on. Under him, England have gained England organization and direction lately, using a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, a playmaker and dedicated wide players, but the approach changed against Albania. Quansah was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time for England and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder meant there was passing resemblance to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for his teammate in the latter period but frequently appeared overly eager to shine. Several poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. A scoring chance for the opponents followed Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card occurred when an opponent took the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Substitutes Decide

In the end England’s depth proved crucial. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka provided a corner for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, all talk was about Bellingham. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for Kane's goal was a little lost amid the drama of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching him. The coach approached to his side and guided the Real Madrid midfielder towards the away supporters. Their connection is not broken. Tuchel is not willing to abandon the player just yet. But if he is willing to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.