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ENG vs LAT

UEFA WC Qualifiers

Wembley Stadium, London

England

vs

Latvia

3
FT
0
38' R. James
68' H. Kane
76' E. Eze
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 3 - 0
Thanks for joining me here on Tribe as England’s winning start to life under Thomas Tuchel continued tonight, with a second successive win in World Cup qualifying, over Latvia at Wembley: I hope you've enjoyed our coverage, I’ve been Rory Morrow, and I look forward to seeing you again soon for another live text commentary!
Up Next - England aren’t in action again, now, until early June when they travel to Andorra for another qualifier. Before Latvia’s next game in the group, at home to Albania, they host Azerbaijan in a friendly a few days beforehand, also in early June.
Latvia did well for large parts, tonight, in terms of frustrating England. At the start of the second half, they slowed the game right down and really kept the hosts at arm's length for a spell. But they were undoubtedly reeling from the failure of Gutkovskis to punish an England error in the first half and once James opened the scoring, it always felt like an uphill battle for Latvia to come back. Ciganiks worked relentlessly on the left side and they can take pride from a more than competitive first ever performance at Wembley, from their men's side. They'll know their World Cup qualification dreams won't hinge on the games against England, who are firmly living up to their tag as Group favourites.
Tonight, England were solid at the back largely but, had they gone behind to Gutkovskis' chance, we may well have seen a different game. However, that did come against the run of play with England enjoying the lion's share of possession, moving the ball quickly and with purpose as they stretched Latvia from side to side. James, on his return to the starting eleven, demonstrated his considerable technical ability with a simply superb free kick, the whip and curl absolutely perfect as it flew into the top right corner. James was also good at the back, making one crucial challenge in the second half. Rice set up Kane again tonight, having done so against Albania, with Rice getting forwards more when Bellingham went off. Tuchel can also be pleased with the bench impact as Foden played in Eze, so balletic on the ball, who oozed class with a lovely dribble and finish to match. A seamless start to the job for Tuchel, who will be aware of the tougher challenges to come, down the line.
TWO WINS FROM TWO FOR THOMAS TUCHEL - England's new manager continues his perfect start as England follow up beating Albania by defeating Latvia tonight, comfortably enough, at Wembley. It makes it a perfect start to World Cup qualifying as well, with six points already registered as England set the early pace in Group K. This evening, they survived an almighty scare when Gutkovskis failed to punish defensive miscommunication between Pickford and Guehi before James, from a free kick, fired in a fantastic opener before the break. After a somewhat stodgy start to the second half, England found their rhythm again, doubling their lead when Rice crossed for Kane to tap home. Then, two men off the bench combined to score a third as Foden played in Eze, who twinkle-toed his way into the box and finished off a lovely move, with a clinical strike. Not perfect from England but very good, nonetheless and, very much, a job well done!
90+3'
SAVE - Nearly a fourth! Eze, entering the box, plays in Kane, down the left-side. Kane pounds into space and unleashes a shot which Zviedris keeps out with a strong, two-handed stop!
90+2'
Guehi, on the left of halfway, passes short to Foden, coming deeper to receive the ball. Foden shuffles in-field, firing it across to Walker, on the right. Sits flies up to press so Walker sends a pass back to the feet of Konsa, in the middle of the centre circle.
+3
89'
Sits, on halfway, comes in late, and a little needlessly, on Konsa, centrally. Sits joins his fellow substitute, Melniks, on a yellow.