Thomas Tuchel secured his second consecutive victory as England head coach with a 3-0 win over Latvia in their World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
However, the performance was more of a grind than a spectacle before England’s dominance translated into goals.
As in Tuchel’s debut match against Albania, England faced long spells of frustration against a team ranked 140th in the world. It took time for their superiority to reflect on the scoresheet.
Chelsea captain Reece James, making his first England start since September 2022, opened the scoring in stunning fashion, curling a precise free-kick into the net from 20 yards, seven minutes before the break.
Despite controlling possession, England found it difficult to breach Latvia’s disciplined defense.
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when captain Harry Kane converted Declan Rice’s cross to net his 71st goal in 105 international appearances.
With Latvia tiring, substitute Eberechi Eze added a third 14 minutes from time, marking his first international goal with a deflected effort.
Tuchel’s victory meant he became the first England men’s manager since Fabio Capello in 2008 to win his opening two competitive fixtures.
Though the final scoreline appeared comfortable, England had made things tougher than necessary against a side ranked 136 places below them.
Their fitness and overall quality ultimately overwhelmed Latvia, but the visitors’ deep defensive setup, much like Albania’s, posed a challenge.
Latvia held firm for an extended period, highlighting both their resilience and England’s struggles to break down compact defenses.
Repeatedly delivering aimless crosses and failing to inject urgency into their play in dangerous areas contributed to England’s difficulties.
Tuchel persisted with Marcus Rashford on the left while opting for West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen over Phil Foden on the right, yet the wide positions did not produce the impact he might have expected.
The six points from these two games were the minimum requirement for Tuchel, and he will be pleased with back-to-back clean sheets.
However, these matches have provided crucial insights into the areas England must refine if they are to achieve the ultimate goal, winning the 2026 World Cup at the conclusion of Tuchel’s 18-month contract.
James Seizes His England Opportunity
Tuchel has long been a firm admirer of Reece James, who played a crucial role in his Chelsea side’s 2021 Champions League triumph.
Demonstrating his trust in the 25-year-old defender, Tuchel wasted no time in recalling him to the England squad as soon as he regained fitness following a series of hamstring injuries.
James repaid that faith with a commanding performance, showcasing both his physical presence and technical prowess.
Against modest opposition, he delivered a reminder of why he is a strong contender for England’s right-back spot.
Tuchel values James as the ideal blend of strength and skill, a player with the physical attributes to compete at the highest level while possessing the finesse required for top-tier football.
His impact was immediate—first with a crunching early challenge that left a Latvian player dazed, then with his expertly taken free-kick that broke the deadlock just as England’s frustration was starting to show.
If James can maintain his fitness, Tuchel seems poised to make him a key pillar of England’s ambitions heading into next year’s World Cup.
