Jude Bellingham dodges red as England grind past Latvia in WC qualifier

Thomas Tuchel's side leaned on a moment of brilliance from Reece James and a late flurry to see off the stubborn minnows, ranked 136th in the world, while Jude Bellingham's lack of discipline nearly cost them dear.

The Real Madrid star, booked in the first half, was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a reckless challenge on Raivis Jurkovskis shortly after the break. Tuchel didn't hesitate, hauling Bellingham off for Phil Foden to avoid a red card that could have shifted the game's momentum. "A bit lucky," Tuchel admitted post-match. "We took the decision straight away to not take the risk and get him off."

England had taken the lead just before halftime through James, who marked his first Three Lions start since September 2022 with a stunning free-kick.

The Chelsea right-back, a Champions League winner under Tuchel in 2021, bent the ball into the top corner with precision that left Latvia's Krisjanis Zviedris rooted. "The quality the boy has is amazing," Tuchel said of James. "He's in excellent shape, sharp, and his quality is at the highest level."

Despite their dominance, England struggled to put Latvia away. The visitors, 136 places below their hosts in FIFA's rankings, frustrated Tuchel's men with a dogged defensive display.

Harry Kane squandered a golden chance in the first half, heading over from close range, and the Three Lions lacked their usual cutting edge. "It was not an easy match," Tuchel conceded. "We saw good things, created chances, but needed a free-kick to unlock it. The second half, we slowed down and made little movement, which makes no sense."

The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when Declan Rice's pinpoint cross found Kane, who tapped in his 71st England goal to double the lead. Eberechi Eze, on as a substitute, sealed the win with a low, deflected strike for his first international goal.

Latvia's resistance crumbled late on, though Zviedris denied Morgan Rogers and Kane in the dying moments to keep the scoreline respectable.

Tuchel also praised Rogers, the Aston Villa midfielder thriving in their Champions League run this season, who impressed on his first England start. "He deserved to start," Tuchel said. "A match where we're so dominant suits him. He felt more freedom on the wing, and he did good."

The result extends England's unbeaten home record in World Cup qualifiers to 30 matches (27 wins, 3 draws), but Tuchel knows there's work ahead. After a 2-0 win over Albania in his debut last Friday, he added, "I'm happy with the attitude, energy, and desire. We'll get there."

Next up, England face Andorra in June, but for now, they've banked six points from two games, gritty rather than glamorous, with Bellingham's close call a reminder of the fine margins in international football.

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