England secured a routine 3-0 victory over Latvia at Wembley on Monday, with Reece James and Eberechi Eze both netting their first senior international goals to guide Thomas Tuchel’s side to a second straight win in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
James, making his first England start since 2022, marked his return with a moment of magic in the 38th minute. The Chelsea full-back curled a sensational free kick past Latvian goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris, finally breaking the deadlock after a frustrating opening spell.
“It has been a long time, I have had a frustrating two years,” said James after the match. “I’m so happy to be called up by my country again. I saw the wall and felt I could bend it around. I was a bit surprised it hit the net.”
England, ranked far above 140th-placed Latvia, dominated possession and attempts on goal but initially struggled to convert their superiority into clear chances. Wembley’s restless crowd even resorted to launching paper planes before James gave them reason to cheer.
Latvia, making their first-ever appearance against England, nearly pulled off a shock when Vladislavs Gutkovskis found himself with an open goal after a mix-up between Marc Guehi and Jordan Pickford. However, the striker could only find the side netting.
Despite a largely one-sided affair — England made 41 crosses over 90 minutes — Latvia remained compact and disciplined at the back. England had a penalty shout waved off by VAR after Zviedris clattered into Jarrod Bowen, and Zviedris produced a brilliant save to deny Ezri Konsa.
In the second half, England’s persistence paid off. Declan Rice found captain Harry Kane in the box, and the striker calmly slotted home his 71st international goal to double England’s lead in the 68th minute.
Eze, a second-half substitute, added gloss to the scoreline with a confident finish after a lively performance on the left wing, staking his claim for more regular inclusion under Tuchel.
The win keeps England top of Group K with six points, ahead of Albania and Latvia, who both have three points. Only the group winners will secure direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Tuchel, who made four changes following the 2-0 win over Albania, including starting his former Chelsea protégé James, now looks to build on the momentum as England seeks early qualification.
