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Should Bellingham hopes to earn his place back into the English top squad, the smart move to eliminate the dramatics. The way he reacted upon realizing that his number was about to come up after a match of mixed performance in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to make more out of it but I stick to my words 'behaviour is key' and respect for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Substitutions happen and you have to accept it when you're on the field."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a tantrum. The captain had just put the national team leading by two in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and the player, who had not played particularly well, received a caution for a foul on an opponent. It was not a debatable decision. Indeed it might have been reckless for the manager to not substitute him given that there was a chance Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by picking up a another booking.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's disappointment upon understanding that his replacement was ready for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he shook Tuchel’s hand on his way to the touchline it was obvious that Tuchel did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle for Bellingham. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance protesting was going to change Tuchel’s mind. The coach has stressed repeatedly following squad protocols and the necessity of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

Bellingham, not included in the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold in the current camp. Essentially he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to his substitution as the national team completed a perfect qualifying campaign by seeing off a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means it's unclear on whether the squad perform optimally including Bellingham. What we saw was inconclusive. Some new ideas were tested from Tuchel in the beginning. He has provided the squad structure and clarity lately, using a holding player, a central midfielder, a No 10 and specialist wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. Jarell Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Mixed Performance

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but often looked trying too hard. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged during most of the second period. A scoring chance for the opponents followed he lost the ball cheaply. His caution came after he was dispossessed from Broja and brought down the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Finally the bench quality was decisive. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who looked better suited to the spot in which Bellingham operated in the opening period, and Bukayo Saka. In time Saka provided a corner for the captain to score the first goal. It highlighted that dead-ball situations will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Relationship Not Broken

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was partly forgotten amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, everyone was watching him. The coach approached to his side and directed Bellingham in the direction of the English fans. The bond between them remains intact. The coach isn't ready to discard Bellingham yet. But if Tuchel is inclined to offer him centre stage is not guaranteed.