England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that his decision to substitute Jude Bellingham during the 3-0 victory over Latvia was a precautionary move to prevent the midfielder from being sent off.

Bellingham, who had received a yellow card late in the first half for a foul on Dmitrijs Zelenkovs, narrowly avoided a second booking early in the second half after a clumsy challenge on Raivis Jurkovskis. With England in full control of the game and looking to preserve their lead, Tuchel made the call to replace Bellingham with Phil Foden in the 67th minute.

“We were a bit lucky, and took straight away the decision to not take the risk and take him off,” Tuchel said after the match. “You never want to lose a player to suspension, especially when we’re in a strong position.”

The substitution underlined Tuchel’s growing reputation as a tactically astute and detail-oriented manager. While Bellingham had been influential in midfield, Tuchel was not willing to jeopardize England’s momentum or discipline by leaving the Real Madrid star on the pitch.

England, already 1-0 up through Reece James’s stunning free-kick his first international goal extended their lead through captain Harry Kane, who converted from close range in the 68th minute. Substitute Eberechi Eze then added a third with a deflected shot, marking his debut goal for the national team.

Despite the convincing result, England’s performance wasn’t entirely free of frustration. Latvia, ranked 140th in the world, held their shape well in the first half and made it difficult for England to break through until James’s moment of brilliance broke the deadlock.

Bellingham’s early yellow card served as a reminder of the fine margins in international football, where even in one-sided matches, discipline remains key. Tuchel’s decision to withdraw him though cautious was a clear statement of his intent to manage risks decisively.

England’s victory kept their perfect record under Tuchel intact, with five wins from five since he replaced Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions now look forward to their next World Cup qualifiers with renewed confidence and a manager unafraid to make big calls when necessary.