Latvia 0-5 England: World Cup Qualification Secured in Dominant Display
England emphatically booked their place at the 2026 World Cup wiht a commanding 5-0 victory over Latvia in Riga. Thomas Tuchel’s team needed a win too guarantee qualification,and they delivered a performance that showcased their superiority over a Latvian side ranked 137th in the world.
The match wasn’t without its complexities for Tuchel, though, as travelling England supporters voiced their discontent with sarcastic chants – a response to the manager’s recent criticism of their perceived lack of vocal support following the friendly against Wales at Wembley.
despite the fan reaction, England’s qualification was secured with two qualifying matches remaining, marking a accomplished initial campaign under Tuchel, who took over from Sir Gareth Southgate in January.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a well-placed, curling shot. Captain Harry Kane then added two goals before halftime, first with a strike from outside the box and then converting a penalty awarded after a shirt pull.
england extended their led in the 58th minute when a Djed Spence cross was inadvertently turned into the Latvian net by Andrejs Ciganiks for an own goal. Substitute Eberechi Eze completed the rout in the 86th minute, showcasing skillful dribbling before slotting home a low finish to make the final score 5-0.
