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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way back into the English best starting eleven, he would be wise to eliminate the dramatics. His reaction after noticing that his number was about to come up after an evening of uneven play in Tirana fell short of expectations.

"I’d rather not blow it out of proportion but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the squad members who substitute on," commented the coach. "Substitutions happen and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Harry Kane had just put the national team 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, with only six minutes remaining and Bellingham, following an inconsistent display, received a caution for fouling an opponent. This was hardly a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for the head coach to leave Bellingham on considering it was possible he would be suspended of the opening game of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Shifting Focus on Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that he would be substituted for another player. He threw his arms up and even though he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the sideline it was obvious that the head coach was not impressed.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He praised his teammate for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but the rest was self-defeating. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The German has talked so much about following squad protocols and the value of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, not included in the team last month, has faced close inspection after returning to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case through his behavior to his substitution as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by seeing off a feisty challenge from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on whether the team function at their best when Bellingham plays. The performance was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach in the beginning. He has provided England a clear system lately, employing a No 6, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different versus Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the role of John Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a passing resemblance to Manchester City’s team that won three trophies.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. Several hurried and errant passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. England's play was messy after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he lost the ball to Broja and brought down Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end England’s depth proved crucial. Tuchel introduced Foden, who seemed better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. Later Saka whipped in a corner for Harry Kane to score the first goal. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will play a key role next summer.

Connection Remains

However, the focus was on Bellingham. The excellence of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was a little lost in the ridiculousness of the player change. After the final whistle, everyone was watching the midfielder. Tuchel walked up to his side and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. The bond between them is not broken. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. Yet whether he is willing to give him the central position is not guaranteed.