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Should Bellingham wants to fight his way into the English best squad, the smart move to eliminate the nonsense. His response after noticing that the substitute board was being shown after a match of uneven play in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and consideration for the squad members who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you must accept them as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no call for a strop. Harry Kane had just put England two goals ahead in an inconsequential match, with only six minutes remaining and he, after a below-par performance, had just been booked for a foul on an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. In fact it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him considering there was a risk he would be suspended of the initial fixture of the tournament by picking up a another booking.

Shifting Focus Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the 22-year-old’s annoyance as he realized that he would be substituted for another player. His arms went up in exasperation and even though he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the sideline it was obvious that the manager was displeased.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to head in his second of the night, but his other actions was harmful to his cause. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has repeatedly emphasized following squad protocols and the importance of acting professionally.

Facing Examination

Bellingham, left out of last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team in the current camp. In effect he has been on trial and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as the side rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a spirited effort from Albania.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on how the squad perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. The performance was open to interpretation. Tuchel tried new things from Tuchel at the start. Under him, England have gained England structure and clarity in recent months, building with a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but the approach changed against Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder made his first start for England and the positioning of Stones as a part-time midfielder gave a faint echo to City's 2023 treble winners.

A Game of Two Halves

Bellingham had ups and downs. He made a chance for his teammate during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. There were a lot of hurried and errant passes. There was a needless bit of aggro with an Albania midfielder early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from he lost the ball cheaply. His booking occurred when an opponent took the ball by Broja and brought down the attacker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Phil Foden, who looked better suited to the role that Bellingham had played during the first half, and the Arsenal winger. Eventually Saka delivered a corner kick for Kane to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that corners and free-kicks will be crucial in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of Rashford's cross for Kane's goal was a little lost amid the drama of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and directed Bellingham to acknowledge the away supporters. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to give up on Bellingham yet. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to grant him a starring role is still uncertain.