Player Assessments: England Secure a Spot for 2026 World Cup

Gareth Southgate's side secured their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory over the Baltic side on the midweek fixture.

First Eleven Performance

  • England's number one – Pulled off a couple of good saves in the latter period to maintain his remarkable clean sheet streak. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
  • The defender – Seems at home in international football with ease. More challenging tests await, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
  • John Stones – A pair of fixtures in a short span will do the Manchester City defender a great benefit. Still one of the automatic picks on the team-sheet, fitness permitting. 7
  • Aston Villa's defender – Picked ahead of the other option and was flawless. Executed an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the second half to boot. 7
  • Myles Lewis-Skelly – Looked a slightly off the pace at times, understandable given his scarce minutes at Arsenal. An intriguing few months ahead. 6
  • Newcastle's star – Looks irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Looks suited to this level and has developed an strong partnership with Rice. 7
  • Declan Rice – Thriving in his attacking role. The pillar of England's midfield is showing his creative abilities now. Developing into a real all-round midfielder. 7
  • The forward – Less influential as he has been in England's successes over other teams. The answer will come next month who is the true owner of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • The winger – Contributed an setup to his brilliant goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
  • Harry Kane – At his peak. Increased his tally for the season to 20 strikes. Has hit the back of the net 76 goals for his country. Will he achieve 100? 8
  • Anthony Gordon – Precise finish to get the ball rolling for England here in the Latvian capital. Has done a good job during this break. 7.5

England Substitutes

  • The experienced midfielder (for Rice 60) – Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
  • The playmaker (for Rogers 60) – Excellently taken goal and a threat. 7
  • Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Faces competition on his hands to earn a place when the squad is full. 6
  • Newcastle's full-back (for Stones 71) – Typically, managed everything in the air. 6
  • The forward (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left was noticeable. 6

After a World Cup spot confirmed, the team can now prepare for next summer with confidence.

Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper

A seasoned tech writer and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup growth strategies.