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For Bellingham to aims to force his way back into the English top starting eleven, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. His response upon realizing that he was being shown after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stand by my words 'behaviour is key' and respect towards the players who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you have to accept it being a professional."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a tantrum. Harry Kane had recently scored to make the national team 2-0 up in an inconsequential match, there were six minutes left and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling Armando Broja. This was hardly a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for the head coach to not substitute him considering it was possible he would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by getting a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight on Himself

Yet Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment upon understanding that he was going to make way for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and while he accepted the coach's hand while heading to the touchline there was no doubt that Tuchel was displeased.

Here lies the test facing Bellingham. He congratulated Marcus Rashford for delivering the cross for the captain to head in his second goal, but his other actions was counterproductive. It is not as if arguing was going to reverse the substitution. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized honoring the team structure and the importance of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, omitted from the team last month, has faced close inspection upon his return to the squad in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to coming off the pitch as the national team rounded off a ideal group stage by seeing off a spirited effort from the Albanian team.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on if the squad function at their best with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was open to interpretation. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has given England organization and direction over the past few matches, using a defensive midfielder, a No 8, an attacking midfielder and dedicated wide players, but there was a different feel in this match. Jarell Quansah was given his first cap, Adam Wharton started for the first time internationally and the use of the defender as a part-time midfielder gave a faint echo to Manchester City’s historic treble-winning side.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but at times seemed too desperate to impress. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. A pointless clash with a rival player in the early stages. The team looked disjointed during most of the second period. One Albania chance followed Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Finally the bench quality made the difference. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham earlier in the match, and Bukayo Saka. Eventually Saka provided a corner for the captain to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that corners and free-kicks will play a key role in the upcoming tournament.

Bridge Still Stands

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was a little lost amid the drama of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, all eyes were on Bellingham. Tuchel walked up behind him and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. Their relationship remains intact. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. But if the coach is prepared to grant him a starring role is still uncertain.