Chelsea defender Reece James put in a brilliant performance to help England to a 3-0 win over Latvia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After leading England to a 2-0 win over Albania, Thomas Tuchel made four changes in his second match as coach. He gave starters to James, Marc Guehi, Jarrod Bowen, and Morgan Rogers.
The Three Lions suffered a frustrating first half before James produced a miracle with a spectacular free-kick to score his first goal for England in 18 appearances. Captain Harry Kane then doubled the lead in the second half in a historic match that saw him equal Billy Wright’s all-time England appearance record of 105.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for England, sealing a comfortable win despite a patchy display. Tuchel will be delighted to have started his reign with two straight wins without conceding, leaving England three points clear at the top of Group K. However, the first half was a torrid one as England struggled to break down Latvia’s disciplined defence.
Despite creating a number of chances, the brightest moment of the first half came from a brilliant free-kick by James that left the opposition goalkeeper unstoppable.
England were better in the second half, buoyed by increased intensity and tired opposition players. Tuchel will also have been pleased with England’s third goal, in which Eze showed a bravery in the defence, providing the variety that Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford had lacked in previous games.
James was excellent in the game, emulating David Beckham’s trademark free-kick to put England ahead before half-time. It was his first start for the national team since the UEFA Nations League match against Germany in September 2022.
The Chelsea defender also showed his versatility by moving into midfield in the final minutes, having previously played as a right-back for most of the match. His statistics were also impressive, James managed to complete 96 of 97 passes and made eight recoveries in a brilliant performance at Wembley. With this victory, England are increasingly confident in continuing their journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers under Thomas Tuchel. (*)
