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Should Bellingham wants to earn his place back into England’s strongest squad, it would be smart to eliminate the unnecessary reactions. The way he reacted after noticing that the substitute board was going up after an evening of uneven play in Tirana was unacceptable.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and consideration for the teammates who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. It was unnecessary for a strop. The captain had only moments earlier made it the national team 2-0 up in a dead rubber match, the game had six minutes to go and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for a foul on an opponent. This could scarcely be called a debatable decision. Indeed it would have been foolish for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch given that there was a risk Bellingham would rule himself out of the opening game of the competition by picking up a second yellow card.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. No one could overlook the 22-year-old’s disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for another player. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake on his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager did not appreciate it.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for providing the assist for the captain to score the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. There was no chance arguing was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has stressed repeatedly honoring the team structure and the necessity of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

He, not included in last month’s squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold this month. Essentially he was being assessed and he has not done himself any favours by reacting to his substitution as England rounded off a ideal group stage by defeating a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

Tactics and Formation

It means the jury is out on if England perform optimally including Bellingham. The performance was not definitive. There was experimentation by the coach at the start. He has provided the squad structure and clarity in recent months, employing a holding player, a box-to-box player, an attacking midfielder and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel in this match. Quansah was made his England debut, Wharton was in the starting lineup at this level and the role of the defender as a makeshift midfielder meant there was similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He set up a shot for Eze during the second half but at times seemed overly eager to shine. There were a lot of rushed, misplaced passes. There was a needless bit of aggro against an opponent in the early stages. The team looked disjointed after halftime. One Albania chance came after Bellingham gave the ball away. The yellow card was shown after he was dispossessed to Broja and brought down Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the bench quality made the difference. The coach brought on Phil Foden, who seemed more naturally fitted to the role occupied by Bellingham during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka delivered a corner for Kane to break the deadlock. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations are going to be vital in the upcoming tournament.

Connection Remains

However, all talk was about Bellingham. The quality of the winger's delivery for Kane’s header was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the player change. When the match concluded, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached from behind and directed the player towards the away supporters. The bond between them is not damaged. The coach isn't ready to discard him at this stage. Yet whether Tuchel is inclined to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.