Live commentary recap | Latvia v England
Latvia v England live commentary
Three points here and England will have qualified for the 2026 World Cup
Author | Lauren W
This will be the place for live commentary from England's trip to Latvia.
Full-time
England have qualified for the World Cup with two games to spare. Against limited opposition granted but that was a superb performance from The Three Lions.
85 minutes | Eze makes it five!
He scored against Latvia in March, and Eberechi Eze adds another against them tonight. A precise low finish followed after Jarrod Bowen did well to win possession on the halfway line. The perfect finishing touch.
74 minutes | “A thoroughly professional display from Thomas Tuchel’s side...”
Gez wanted to travel to Latvia for the match but had to settle for watching on TV. He has been impressed with the performance: “Just the 19 efforts on goal for England, with 41 touches inside Latvia’s penalty area. A thoroughly professional display from Thomas Tuchel’s side tonight.”
57 minutes | An own goal from Andrejs Ciganiks makes it four
A superb delivery into the Latvia box from Djed Spence struck Andrejs Ciganiks and rolled into the net. The Three Lions are in complete control.
45+3 minutes | Two quick goals from Kane put England in cruise control
26 minutes | A goal from Anthony Gordon
A fantastic finish from Gordon as England take a deserved lead. They are now just over 64 minutes away from the World Cup.
Spence has come out of nowhere as an England prospect
Djed Spence only made his England debut on 9 September. However, the Tottenham defender is mounting a serious challenge for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
A solid performance tonight, followed by encouraging displays against Serbia and Albania next month, could secure him a place on the England plane.
Why is Jordan Pickford so good?
The Everton keeper starts again for England tonight. Our friends at Super Local Sports News recently explored his career so far and why he's still evolving with Everton and England.
Team news
Harry Kane, England’s all-time leading goalscorer, returns from injury. The striker, who has scored 74 goals in 109 appearances for his country, replaces Ollie Watkins.
There are two changes from the side that faced Wales, with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming in for Marc Guehi.
Manchester City defender John Stones earns his 85th cap, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford his 80th, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice reaches 70 appearances.
The setting for tonight's match
Darkness has quickly descended on the Daugava Stadium, the largest in Latvia. The ground, which features a running track encircling a well-kept pitch, holds 10,461 spectators and serves as the home of FK Metta in the Virsliga.
Reigning Latvian champions FK RFS have also used the stadium for European matches.
One England fan told us: "I love these trips. You don't get these grounds in the Premier League!"
Outside the ground
Last time between these two sides
Thomas Tuchel guided England to a second consecutive World Cup qualifying win, overcoming a stubborn Latvia side at Wembley. Despite long periods of frustration against a team ranked 140th in the world, England eventually broke through, with Chelsea captain Reece James scoring a stunning free-kick seven minutes before half-time on his first start since September 2022.
The visitors continued to resist until Harry Kane added his 71st international goal from Declan Rice’s cross in the 68th minute, before Eberechi Eze netted his first England goal late on. With the 3-0 victory, Tuchel became the first England men’s manager since Fabio Capello in 2008 to win his opening two competitive matches.
