London, 25 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted that Jude Bellingham was “lucky” to avoid a red card as his side laboured to a 3-0 victory over Latvia in their World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Monday.
Just days after cautioning that Bellingham can be “very emotional” and must better control his temperament on the pitch, Tuchel witnessed the Real Madrid midfielder escape a potential sending-off. Having received a booking in the first half, Bellingham then committed a reckless challenge on Raivis Jurkovskis early in the second half but avoided further punishment.
Recognising the risk, Tuchel promptly substituted him for Phil Foden to prevent any chance of England being reduced to ten men.
“A Bit Lucky” – Tuchel on Bellingham’s Close Call
“He was a bit lucky. We made the decision immediately not to take the risk and took him off,” Tuchel said post-match.
At the time of Bellingham’s substitution, England were leading just 1-0 through Reece James’s sublime first-half free-kick. His indiscipline could have jeopardised Tuchel’s bid to make it two wins from two at the start of his England tenure. Fortunately for the hosts, Harry Kane doubled the lead shortly after Bellingham’s exit, with Eberechi Eze securing the victory late on.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | England | Latvia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 72% | 28% |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 1 |
| Total Attempts | 19 | 3 |
| Pass Accuracy | 89% | 65% |
| Fouls Committed | 12 | 10 |
England’s Struggles Against Minnows Continue
Despite facing a Latvian side ranked 136 places below them in FIFA’s world rankings, England lacked fluency for large spells. This performance followed a similarly uninspiring 2-0 win against Albania in Tuchel’s debut match last Friday.
“It was not an easy match. We saw a lot of good things, created chances, but needed a free-kick to unlock it. I’m happy with the attitude, energy, and desire. We will improve,” Tuchel assured.
The German tactician acknowledged England’s sluggish second-half approach, saying, “We slowed the game down and made little movement, which made no sense. The second goal was better, we showed acceleration from one of our sixes. We encourage these late accelerations, but we struggled a bit until then. I am learning about the players and the game, so it is interesting.”
James and Rogers Impress Tuchel
James’ first England start since September 2022 was the standout moment for Tuchel. The Chelsea right-back, plagued by hamstring issues over the past two seasons, excelled in his familiar attacking role.
“Reece has amazing quality. He has every right to be proud and happy with his performance,” Tuchel said. “If we play a dominant match like today, he can act as a hybrid midfielder to create an overload. His quality is at the highest level.”
Tuchel also lauded Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers on his full England debut. Rogers has been instrumental in Villa’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals and showed glimpses of his club form at Wembley.
“I’m happy with him. He deserved to start. In a match where we dominate, he suits playing from the wings better. He felt more freedom there, and he did well,” Tuchel observed.
What’s Next for England?
England will return to action in June against Andorra, where Tuchel hopes to see further improvements. While results have been positive, the German coach will be keen to fine-tune his side’s attacking rhythm and ensure they avoid disciplinary concerns heading into the latter stages of the qualifiers.
