England secure 2026 World Cup qualification with dominant win over Latvia

LATVIA 0-5 ENGLAND: The Three Lions knew a win in Riga would be enough to book their place in next summer’s showpiece, becoming the first European nation to secure a spot

You can get your World Cup wall chart ready for next summer. England booked their place in the United States with yet another thumping win and Harry Kane masterclass. Incredibly, Kane has now got 76 goals in 110 caps.

And if record breaker Kane is in this sort of form, then England fans can dare to dream and begin to plot a path all the way because their Captain Marvel will take some stopping.

Thomas Tuchel has got them playing with confidence, goals and they have yet to concede in six qualifying ties which is a remarkable record.

There is also fierce competition as Anthony Gordon was also on target and he is now ahead of Marcus Rashford in the queue for places in the starting XI.

That sort of battle and competition runs throughout the squad and, even though five goals against lowly opponents will not scare their World Cup rivals, England are looking the real deal under Tuchel.

The Daugava Stadium has a touch of Sunday League about it because one side of the ground is lined with trees rather than a stand. You dread got think what happens if the ball goes over the fence.

And, frankly, it felt like a mismatch for England’s millionaire stars because they were up against a team only one place ahead of the Faroe Islands in 137th place in the FIFA rankings.

Despite the David and Goliath battle, still the England fans were out in force as around 2,000 made the trip to Riga and they were loud and proud in the 10,404 attendance.

It was no wonder they wanted their say after Tuchel was critical after last week’s friendly with Wales as he said Wembley was too quiet and they did not offer enough support.

They made it clear what they thought as they chanted: “Thomas Tuchel – we’ll sing when we want followed by: “Are we loud enough for you?”

These games are rarely much of a spectacle either. But at least this time we were treated to some goals, a big VAR decision and even the odd scare for England’s defence.

But ultimately, they got the job done. It is now 37 games unbeaten in World Cup qualifying and these games are always a precession when Kane is in the mood. He is way too hot to handle and already has 21 goals for club and country this season.

It was a bit turgid and slow before the goal rush came. Latvia just deep. They barricaded their penalty box and took some breaking down. Finally, England got their breakthrough after 26 minutes.

John Stones stepped forward, hit a long ball forward but with real precision and quality to pick out Gordon on the left wing. The Newcastle winger cut into the box on his right foot and curled a low shot into the bottom corner.

Kane got his first and England’s second after 44 minutes. Bukayo Saka charged down a clearance, the ball fell to Kane who despatched a low 20 yard shot into the bottom corner with his “wrong” foot, his left. What a player.

It got even worse for Latvia in first half injury time. Referee Tasos Sidiropoulos gave a penalty after a VAR check for a shirt pull on Kane. The England captain stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.

England’s fourth was an own goal. Djed Spence curled in a cross from the right, the keeper flapped it at and it deflected in off Latvia substitute Maksims Toņiševs.

But England were actually tested in defence. Ezri Konsa made one superb recovery tackle to thwart Vladislavs Gutkovskis who also went close with another couple of decent efforts.

Eberechi Eze wrapped it up with a late fifth which made it a very comfortable night for England.

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