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Should Bellingham aims to fight his way back into the English strongest starting eleven, the smart move to cut out the unnecessary reactions. His response upon realizing that he was going up after an evening of mixed performance in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I prefer not to blow it out of proportion but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," commented the coach. "Decisions are made and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for a tantrum. Kane had recently scored to make the Three Lions leading by two in an inconsequential match, with only six minutes remaining and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for fouling Armando Broja. This was hardly a controversial substitution. In fact it would have been unwise for Tuchel to keep Bellingham on the pitch considering there was a risk he would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

However, the player turned the spotlight on himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he shook Tuchel’s hand while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to score the team's second, but the rest was harmful to his cause. There was no chance complaining was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

He, omitted from last month’s squad, has been under scrutiny 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 being taken off as England rounded off a flawless qualification run by overcoming a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

This implies opinions are divided on if England operate most effectively when Bellingham plays. The evidence here was not definitive. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided the team a clear system over the past few matches, using a holding player, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but it felt different against Albania. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton made his first start internationally and the use of the defender as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of poorly executed passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player at the beginning. England were ragged for much of the second half. One Albania chance came after he lost the ball cheaply. His caution was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Substitutes Decide

Finally England’s depth made the difference. Tuchel threw on the Manchester City player, who appeared better suited to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Later Saka delivered a corner for the captain to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, the focus was on Bellingham. The brilliance of Rashford’s assist for Kane's goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, all eyes were on Bellingham. The coach approached to his side and guided the player towards the away supporters. Their relationship is not broken. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage remains in doubt.