Thomas Tuchel admits he took off Jude Bellingham as he was a red card ‘risk’

24-Mar-2025 23:35:50 | Guardian

England star substituted after challenge against Latvia
Coach says it could ‘have turned the game upside down’

After England’s defeat of Latvia successfully completed the new head coach’s first World Cup qualifying double-header, Thomas Tuchel admitted he had removed Jude Bellingham to avoid a red card.

Goals by Harry Kane, Reece James, and Eberechi Eze – for the latter two, their first at England senior level – secured victory in a game during which Bellingham, booked in the first half, launched a second-half challenge on the Latvia defender Raivis Jurkovskis that looked worthy of a yellow.