England cruise past Latvia in World Cup qualifier

England continued their winning ways in World Cup qualifying, defeating Latvia 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions dominated the match, with goals from Reece James, Harry Kane, and Eberechi Eze securing the victory. The win keeps England at the top of their qualifying group, with Thomas Tuchel’s side looking strong contenders for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Reece James opened the scoring for England in the 38th minute, bending in a brilliant free-kick that gave Latvia goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris no chance. The goal was James’ first for England, and it set the tone for a dominant performance from the home side.

Harry Kane doubled England’s lead in the 68th minute, slotting home a pass from Declan Rice to make it 2-0. The goal was Kane’s 55th for England, and it marked his 10th goal in his last 11 appearances for the national team.

Eberechi Eze sealed the win for England in the 76th minute, scoring his first goal for the national team. Eze’s shot took a deflection off a Latvia defender, but the Crystal Palace midfielder was thrilled to have scored his first England goal.

Despite the convincing win, England’s performance was not without its criticisms. Some fans felt that Tuchel’s decision to bring on Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker in the second half was unnecessary, given the comfortable lead. However, the England manager was pleased with his team’s performance, praising their dominance and control throughout the match.

The win over Latvia keeps England top of their qualifying group, with Tuchel’s side looking well-placed to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. England’s next qualifying match is against Ukraine, and the Three Lions will be confident of securing another win.

England’s dominant performance against Latvia will have sent a warning to their qualifying rivals, and Tuchel’s side will be looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. With a strong squad and a confident team dynamic, England are shaping up to be a formidable force in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.