Five-star England Qualify For 2026 World Cup After Kane’s Double Sees Off Latvia

It was nan nighttime erstwhile England confirmed nan inevitable. Thomas Tuchel and his players are going to nan World Cup finals tourney adjacent summertime arsenic nan winners of qualifying Group K, their advancement serene, their grounds – pinch 2 ties still to tick disconnected adjacent moth – without blemish.

The superior business awaits, nan only frisson of jeopardy present provided by nan England fans, who sought to make a fewer points to Tuchel during nan first half aft his criticism of nan Wembley crowd successful nan 3-0 friends triumph against Wales past Thursday. He had complained astir them being excessively quiet.

It was different commanding capacity from Tuchel’s team, albeit against lowly guidance who seemed to admit that they had zero chance. Anthony Gordon opened nan scoring past Harry Kane added 2 much earlier nan interval to return his England tally to 76.

It was only ever going to beryllium a mobility of really many. And whether England could grounds their sixth cleanable expanse successful six qualifying victories. They could, which meant a ninth successful succession for nan goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford; an hold of his England record. Once again, he had precious small thrown astatine him.

England’s 4th extremity dribbled successful apologetically disconnected Maksims Tonisevs, connected arsenic a Latvia substitute, while different replacement, Eberechi Eze, added nan fifth. England tin only hit what is successful beforehand of them. They person done so. With expanding assurance.

There was a back-to-the-future benignant of vibe, nan mini stadium a existent throwback. It was not truthful overmuch nan moving way that kept nan fans good backmost from nan pitch, alternatively nan truth that only nan little tier of nan main guidelines had a roof. Then location were nan gangly trees that lined 1 broadside of nan ground; nary seats complete there.

The segment was genuinely group by what nan travelling England support sang successful nan opening minutes. “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll singing erstwhile we want.” Then: “Are we large capable for you?” And: “Our support is fucking shit.” Was it good‑natured? Yes and no. There had been 1 aliases 2 boos erstwhile Tuchel’s sanction was publication out.

Tuchel went beardown pinch his lineup, nan only astonishment being nan omission of Marc Guéhi, who nan head said he rested aft nan player’s caller workload. Ezri Konsa collaborated John Stones successful nan centre of defence, pinch Myles Lewis‑Skelly brought backmost successful astatine left-back.

Anthony Gordon fires location England’s opening extremity successful nan 26th minute. Photograph: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty Images

England were confronted by nan acquainted show of an force successful a 5‑4‑1 shape. It was a slow-burning start. Kane had nan shot successful nan nett only for an offside emblem to spell up against Bukayo Saka successful nan buildup, while nan skipper wasted a clear chance aft a give-and-go pinch Gordon.

The sideshow of nan England fans versus Tuchel vied for prominence. “Tuchel, Tuchel, springiness america a song.” Which led to a activity from him. Then: “Where were you erstwhile we were shit?” Tuchel says he loves nan English consciousness of humour.

Where Latvia went incorrect was trying to motorboat an attack. Up until nan 26th minute, they had been highly compact. But erstwhile they ventured guardant and gave up possession, Stones launched a agelong shot backmost and Gordon had a one‑on‑one against nan correct wing‑back, Raivis Jurkovskis; immoderate room successful which to work.

Gordon had already shown he had nan gait to spell astir Jurkovskis. Now, he trim wrong and shaped a beautiful curler into nan acold corner.

Gordon shimmered pinch menace while nan England support kept coming pinch nan one-liners. “It’s each gone quiet complete here.” And: “Tuchel’s right, nan fans are shite.”

Kane dragged nan attraction backmost to nan pitch. How he executed nan 2nd extremity was breathtaking. It was a chance retired of not very overmuch connected nan separator of nan box. A speedy backlift, a rasping debased drive, Krisjanis Zviedris fixed nary chance.

Kane would activity nan goalkeeper pinch a downwards header and he had his 2nd earlier half-time erstwhile Antonijs Cernomordijs was excessively hands-on pinch him connected a corner, nan punishment fixed aft a nudge from nan VAR.

There were 2,456 England supporters successful attendance and immoderate of them did not return to their seats for nan 2nd half. They had nary screen arsenic nan rainfall lashed down, constricted nationalist carrier options backmost into municipality because of nan 9.45pm section clip kick-off and nan occupation was surely done. What must Tuchel person made of that?

Latvia, classed 137 successful nan world, only managed a location tie against Andorra connected Saturday. They person won conscionable 2 qualifiers successful 2 years – against nan Faroe Islands and Andorra. They were ne'er going to do thing here. Could they astatine slightest nick a goal?

Konsa showed England’s determination to sphere nan cleanable expanse connected 55 minutes erstwhile he raced backmost to situation Vladislavs Gutkovskis connected an isolated Latvia counter.

The ain extremity followed a Djed Spence transverse and a touch by Zviedris that took nan shot onto Tonisevs while Eze’s decorativeness was clinical. The juncture vanished pinch nan England fans who stayed asking Tuchel for a song. He waved astatine them and applauded.