Squad Assessments: England Secure a Spot for the Upcoming Tournament

The national team secured their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing win over Latvia on the midweek fixture.

England's Starting XI

  • England's number one – Pulled off a few of excellent saves in the second half to preserve his impressive clean sheet run. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
  • The full-back – Has taken to international football seamlessly. More challenging tests lie ahead, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
  • The defender – Two matches in five days will do the City defender a world of good. Remains one of the key players on the roster, fitness permitting. 7
  • The centre-back – Picked ahead of his competitor and didn't put a foot wrong. Executed an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the closing period to boot. 7
  • Arsenal's talent – Looked a somewhat not at his best at times, understandable given his limited game time at his club. An interesting few months ahead. 6
  • The midfielder – Looks essential in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has struck up an excellent partnership with Rice. 7
  • Declan Rice – Enjoying his attacking role. The backbone of England's midfield is showing his offensive abilities now. Developing into a real all-round midfielder. 7
  • Morgan Rogers – Less influential as he has been in England's successes over other teams. We should find out next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • Bukayo Saka – Contributed an setup to his brilliant goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
  • Harry Kane – In the form of his life. Boosted his count for the season to 20 scores. Has scored 76 goals for his country. Will he achieve 100? 8
  • The forward – Clinical finish to open the scoring for England here in the Latvian capital. Has performed admirably during this international window. 7.5

The Bench Players

  • The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
  • Eberechi Eze (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a threat. 7
  • Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to make the squad when all are available. 6
  • Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – Predictably, dealt with everything in the air. 6
  • The forward (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left was noticeable. 6

After a World Cup spot secured, the team can now focus for the upcoming tournament with optimism.

Brandon Allen
Brandon Allen

An art historian and cultural enthusiast with a passion for Italian heritage and museum curation.