Thomas Tuchel extended his unbeaten start as England manager, with Reece James’ first international goal inspiring a 3-0 victory over Latvia in Monday’s World Cup qualifier.
Despite struggling to break down defensive opposition for long spells at Wembley, England ultimately found their rhythm to dispatch the 140th-ranked side.
Three days after a hard-fought 2-0 win against Albania in Tuchel’s debut, England again labored before finally asserting their dominance.
James broke the deadlock late in the first half with a stunning free-kick, marking an impressive return to the starting lineup—his first England start since September 2022 after battling hamstring injuries.
The Chelsea right-back, instrumental in Tuchel’s 2021 Champions League-winning team, could prove to be a key asset if he remains fit.
England captain Harry Kane sealed the result with his 71st international goal in the second half, before Eberechi Eze came off the bench to score his maiden goal for the Three Lions.
While Tuchel’s tenure has yet to yield consistently fluent performances, England’s weak Group K opposition means they are already on course for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Tuchel is the first England manager since Fabio Capello to win his opening two competitive games, and he now has 75 days to prepare for their next qualifier against Andorra on June 7.
Tactical Tweaks and a Moment of Brilliance
Determined to impose his own identity on the squad, Tuchel surprised many by naming a starting XI without any players from Manchester United, Manchester City, or Liverpool—the first time since 1992.
He also dropped Phil Foden in favor of Jarrod Bowen, handed a first start to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in place of Curtis Jones, and introduced James for Kyle Walker.
England’s early dominance of possession failed to translate into a breakthrough, and they nearly fell behind in the 19th minute.
A mix-up between Marc Guehi and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford gifted Latvia’s Vladislavs Gutkovskis a golden opportunity, but he could only find the side netting.
Moments later, Jude Bellingham’s header deflected to Ezri Konsa, whose close-range effort was acrobatically denied by Latvia’s Krisjanis Zviedris.
England finally found their spark in the 38th minute when James curled a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards, sparking jubilant celebrations from Tuchel on the touchline.
Despite some defensive fragility, Pickford preserved England’s lead with a key save from Alvis Jaunzems. Bellingham, already booked, was fortunate to avoid a red card before being substituted for Foden.
England doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when Declan Rice whipped in a low cross, allowing Kane to slot home with his trademark predatory instinct.
The night ended on a high note as Eze added a third in the 76th minute, weaving through defenders before his shot deflected in off Antonijs Cernomordijs.
While England remain a work in progress under Tuchel, they continue to grind out results—an encouraging sign as they build towards the World Cup.
