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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way back into the English best starting eleven, the smart move to do away with the nonsense. The way he reacted upon realizing that he was going up after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the players who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a strop. The captain had recently scored to make the national team leading by two in a meaningless match, with only six minutes remaining and he, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on the Albanian striker. It was not a questionable change. In fact it would have been foolish for Tuchel to leave Bellingham on considering there was a chance the midfielder would be suspended of the opening game of the competition by picking up a second caution.

Drawing Attention to Himself

However, the player made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's annoyance upon understanding that he would be substituted for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for the captain to score his second goal, but everything else was self-defeating. There was no chance protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the value of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

He, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully upon his return to the team in the current camp. In effect he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as England rounded off a flawless qualification run by defeating a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result the jury is out on whether the squad function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach early on. He has given the team organization and direction in recent months, employing a No 6, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the use of John Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to City's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for his teammate after the break but at times seemed overly eager to shine. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed for much of the second half. A scoring chance for the opponents resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. The yellow card occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and brought down the attacker.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Phil Foden, who seemed better suited to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for Harry Kane to open the scoring. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the player change. When the match concluded, everyone was watching him. The coach approached behind him and guided the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether the coach is prepared to offer him centre stage remains in doubt.