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 β 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 β Has taken to international football seamlessly. More challenging tests lie ahead, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
- The defender β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β Contributed an setup to his brilliant goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
- Harry Kane β 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 β 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) β Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
- Eberechi Eze (for Rogers 60) β Well-executed goal and a threat. 7
- Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) β Battles on his hands to make the squad when all are available. 6
- Dan Burn (for Stones 71) β Predictably, dealt with everything in the air. 6
- The forward (for Gordon 71) β 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.