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For Bellingham to aims to force his way once again into England’s best squad, it would be smart to cut out the nonsense. His response when he saw that his number was being shown following a night of inconsistency in the match against Albania was unacceptable.

"I’d rather not overstate it but I stand by my words 'attitude matters' and respect towards the squad members who substitute on," commented the coach. "Choices are taken and you need to comply as a player."

Bellingham has to learn. There was no call for a tantrum. Harry Kane had only moments earlier made it the national team leading by two in a dead rubber match, the game had six minutes to go and he, who had not played particularly well, had just been booked for bringing down Armando Broja. This was hardly a questionable change. Indeed it would have been unwise for the head coach to keep Bellingham on the pitch because there was a risk Bellingham would make himself ineligible of the opening game of the competition by picking up a second yellow card.

Drawing Attention Upon Himself

However, the player drew all eyes toward himself. It was impossible to miss the player's annoyance upon understanding that his replacement was ready for Morgan Rogers. He threw his arms up and while he accepted the coach's hand after making his way to the touchline there was no doubt that the head coach did not appreciate it.

Here lies the test that Bellingham must overcome. He applauded Rashford for sending in the ball for Harry Kane to score the team's second, but everything else was counterproductive. It is not as if protesting was going to reverse the substitution. The German has talked so much about following squad protocols and the necessity of behaving correctly.

In the Spotlight

He, not included in the previous squad, is being watched carefully after returning to the squad recently. Practically he has been on trial and he hasn't helped his case by reacting to coming off the pitch as England completed a ideal group stage by overcoming a tough opposition from their opponents.

The System and the Setup

As a result the jury is out on whether England perform optimally with Bellingham in the team. What we saw was inconclusive. Tuchel tried new things by the coach early on. Under him, England have gained England a clear system over the past few matches, employing a holding player, a No 8, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but it felt different versus Albania. The young defender was made his England debut, the midfielder started for the first time at this level and the role of the defender as an auxiliary midfielder created a passing resemblance to the Manchester club's 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He created an opportunity for Eze in the latter period but frequently appeared trying too hard. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash against an opponent in the early stages. England were ragged after halftime. One Albania chance resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His booking came after an opponent took the ball from Broja and brought down Broja.

Depth Makes the Difference

In the end the squad's strength proved crucial. The coach brought on Foden, who seemed more comfortable to the position occupied by Bellingham in the opening period, and the Arsenal winger. Later Saka whipped in a set-piece for the captain to break the deadlock. It was a reminder that set pieces will be crucial next summer.

Bridge Still Stands

Nevertheless, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of Rashford's cross for Kane’s header was partly forgotten in the ridiculousness of the substitution incident. When the match concluded, the focus was on him. The coach approached to his side and directed Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their connection is not broken. The coach isn't ready to abandon the player just yet. But if the coach is prepared to offer him a starring role is not guaranteed.