England faced Latvia in their second World Cup qualifying match at Wembley, with Thomas Tuchel at the helm. The match was a crucial step in their journey towards the 2025 World Cup, and fans were eager to see how the team would perform.

Key Players to Watch

England Starting XI:

• J. Pickford (GK): Solid in goal, making crucial saves to keep Latvia at bay.
• M. Lewis-Skelly (LB): Showed great pace and defensive skills.
• M. Guéhi (CB): Commanding presence in the defense.
• E. Konsa (CB): Reliable and composed under pressure.
• R. James (RB): Provided width and support in attack.
• D. Rice (DM): Controlled the midfield with his vision and passing.
• J. Bellingham (CM): Dynamic and influential in the center.
• M. Rashford (LW): Dangerous on the left wing with his dribbling.
• M. Rogers (RW): Made his full debut, showing promise.
• J. Bowen (CAM): Creative and always looking to create chances.
• H. Kane (ST): Led the line with his usual clinical finishing.

Latvia Starting XI:

• K. Zviedris (GK): Made some good saves but couldn't prevent the goals.
• D. Balodis (RB): Struggled against England's pacey wingers.
• A. Černomordijs (CB): Tried to keep the defense organized.
• R. Jurkovskis (LB): Worked hard but was often overrun.
• A. Cigaņiks (CM): Showed some flashes of creativity.
• R. Savaļnieks (RM): Tried to stretch the defense but lacked support.
• J. Ikaunieks (CAM): The main creative outlet for Latvia.
• D. Zelenkovs (LM): Looked dangerous on occasions.
• A. Saveļjevs (ST): Struggled to make an impact.

Match Highlights

England dominated possession from the start, with Harry Kane opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a clinical finish. Jude Bellingham doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a well-taken goal from outside the box. Latvia tried to respond before halftime, but Jordan Pickford was on hand to deny them.

In the second half, Marcus Rashford added a third for England in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake. Latvia managed to pull one back through Vitalijs Gutkovskis in the 75th minute, but it was too little too late.

Player Ratings

Fans were invited to rate the players out of 10, with the results reflecting the average scores from BBC Sport users. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were among the top-rated players for their impactful performances.

Conclusion

England's 3-1 victory over Latvia was a strong statement in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Under Thomas Tuchel's guidance, the team showed both creativity and resilience. The next match will be crucial as England continues their journey towards the 2025 World Cup.