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For Bellingham to aims to force his way back into the English top team, it would be smart to do away with the dramatics. His response when he saw that he was being shown after an evening of mixed performance in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I don’t want to make more out of it but I hold to my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had just put England leading by two in a meaningless qualifier, there were six minutes left and Bellingham, after a below-par performance, received a caution for a foul on Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that it was possible the midfielder would rule himself out of the first match of the tournament by picking up a second yellow card.

Shifting Focus on Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's frustration upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He flung his arms in the air and even though he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the bench it was clear that the head coach was not impressed.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He praised Rashford for sending in the ball for Kane to nod home the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance protesting was going to alter the decision. The coach has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of showing proper conduct.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully upon his return to the fold this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to being taken off as England rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

It means it's unclear on whether England function at their best including Bellingham. The performance was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach at the start. He has given the team structure and clarity lately, building with a No 6, a No 8, a No 10 and dedicated wide players, but it felt different against Albania. Quansah was made his England debut, Adam Wharton made his first start at this level and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder created a similar look to the Manchester club's team that won three trophies.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He created an opportunity for his teammate after the break but frequently appeared trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with an Albania midfielder early on. The team looked disjointed after halftime. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham gave the ball away. His caution came after he was dispossessed from Broja and committed a foul on Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

Ultimately the squad's strength was decisive. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the spot that Bellingham had played earlier in the match, and Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

Still, though, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for the second goal was partly forgotten due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, the focus was on Bellingham. The coach approached to his side and directed the Real Madrid midfielder in the direction of the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to abandon him at this stage. However, whether the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage remains in doubt.