Thomas Tuchel’s perfect start as England manager continued with a comfortable 3-0 win over Latvia in their second World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
Reece James, making his first international start in over two-and-a-half years, stole the spotlight with a stunning free-kick just before the break.
The Chelsea right-back curled a brilliant shot into the top corner, leaving Latvia’s goalkeeper helpless after a frustrating first half for the Three Lions.
Despite a few early scares, including a miscommunication between Marc Guehi and Jordan Pickford that nearly allowed Latvia to score, England dominated the match.
Harry Kane doubled the lead in the second half, finishing off a team move involving Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers (68′), before Eberechi Eze added a third in the final moments, with his shot deflecting off a defender to find the net.
England’s 3-0 win sees them sit atop Group K with a perfect six points from their opening two games under Tuchel.
Player of the Match: Reece James
Reece James’ free-kick opened the scoring, and he delivered a standout performance that earned him Player of the Match honors. Reflecting on his goal, James admitted,
“It’s been a long time. I’m so happy to get called up and play for my country. I felt I could bend it around the wall, and thankfully it went in.”
England captain Harry Kane praised the influence of Thomas Tuchel, stating, “There were more patterns of play, more chances created. He’s fantastic – the tactical analysis has been top drawer.”
Kane, who netted England’s second goal, expressed confidence in the team’s progress, adding, “We’re getting better under Tuchel, and we’ll continue to improve as we go
With six points from two games, England’s next opportunity to build on their strong start comes in June, when they return to action after the next international break.
As Tuchel continues to implement his ideas, England will be aiming for even more consistency and improvement as they look to build on their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
