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If Jude Bellingham wants to earn his place once again into the English best starting eleven, it would be smart to do away with the nonsense. His response upon realizing that the substitute board was being shown after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania fell short of expectations.

"I don’t want to overstate it but I stand by my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect for the teammates who substitute on," Tuchel said. "Choices are taken and you must accept them being a professional."

The midfielder must understand. It was unnecessary for an outburst. The captain had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber fixture, there were six minutes left and he, following an inconsistent display, was just shown a yellow for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it would have been unwise for the manager to not substitute him given that it was possible he would rule himself out of the initial fixture of the tournament by receiving a another booking.

Turning the Spotlight to Himself

Yet Bellingham made himself the center of attention. It was impossible to miss the young midfielder's disappointment when he clocked that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. His arms went up in exasperation and although he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the sideline there was no doubt that the manager was displeased.

This represents the hurdle that Bellingham must overcome. He congratulated Rashford for delivering the cross for Kane to head in his second goal, but everything else was counterproductive. It's not like protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The coach has talked so much about honoring the team structure and the importance of showing proper conduct.

In the Spotlight

He, omitted from the team last month, is being watched carefully after returning to the fold this month. In effect his place has been in question and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to coming off the pitch as the national team completed a perfect qualifying campaign by overcoming a tough opposition from the Albanian team.

The System and the Setup

As a result opinions are divided on whether the squad operate most effectively including Bellingham. The evidence here was not definitive. Some new ideas were tested by the coach early on. He has provided the team a clear system in recent months, using a No 6, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was handed his international debut, Adam Wharton made his first start at this level and the positioning of Stones as a makeshift midfielder gave a faint echo to City's team that won three trophies.

Inconsistent Display

His performance was inconsistent. He made a chance for Eberechi Eze during the second half but often looked too desperate to impress. He made many rushed, misplaced passes. An unnecessary confrontation with a rival player in the early stages. England were ragged for much of the second half. An opportunity for Albania came after Bellingham squandered possession. His caution occurred when he was dispossessed by Broja and fouled Broja.

Substitutes Decide

Ultimately the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who appeared better suited to the position occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and Saka. Later Saka provided a set-piece for the captain to open the scoring. It highlighted that corners and free-kicks will be crucial next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Still, though, all talk was about Bellingham. The excellence of the winger's delivery for the second goal was somewhat overlooked due to the fuss of the Rogers substitution. When the match concluded, the focus was on the midfielder. Tuchel walked up to his side and pushed the Real Madrid midfielder towards the travelling England fans. Their connection is not broken. The coach isn't ready to discard Bellingham yet. However, whether he is willing to give him a starring role remains in doubt.