England Secures 2026 World Cup Spot with Victory Over Latvia
England secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup with a convincing win against Latvia on Tuesday night.
Sami Mokbel, BBC Sport's Senior Football Correspondent, evaluated the players' performances, and readers can find their ratings at the bottom of this article.
England's Starting XI
Jordan Pickford – Made several crucial saves in the second half, maintaining his impressive clean sheet record, now at nine in a row. Rating: 6.5
Djed Spence – Adapted to international football seamlessly. While tougher challenges await, he has made a solid start to his England career. Rating: 7
John Stones – Playing two matches within five days will benefit the Manchester City defender. He remains a key player in the lineup, health permitting. Rating: 7
Ezri Konsa – Chosen over Marc Guehi and performed flawlessly, including a remarkable last-minute tackle in the second half. Rating: 7
Myles Lewis-Skelly – Showed signs of rustiness, likely due to limited action at Arsenal. The upcoming months will be crucial for his development. Rating: 6
Elliott Anderson – Currently indispensable to the England squad, demonstrating his capability at this level and forming a strong partnership with Declan Rice. Rating: 7
Declan Rice – Thriving in his number eight role, he is now showcasing his attacking talents and evolving into a well-rounded midfielder. Rating: 7
Morgan Rogers – Less influential than in previous victories against Serbia and Wales; the true contender for the number 10 shirt may emerge next month. Rating: 6
Bukayo Saka – Contributed an assist to his impressive goal against Wales last Thursday. He will be vital to England's success next summer. Rating: 7.5
Harry Kane – In exceptional form, he increased his season tally to 20 goals and has scored 76 times for his national team. Can he reach 100? Rating: 8
Anthony Gordon – Opened the scoring for England with a precise finish and has performed well during this international window. Rating: 7.5
England Substitutes
Jordan Henderson (for Rice, 60) – Helped maintain momentum in midfield. Rating: 6
Eberechi Eze (for Rogers, 60) – Scored a well-taken goal and posed a threat. Rating: 7
Jarrod Bowen (for Saka, 60) – Faces competition to secure a spot in the squad when all players are fit. Rating: 6
Dan Burn (for Stones, 71) – Dealt effectively with aerial challenges, as expected. Rating: 6
Marcus Rashford (for Gordon, 71) – Made an impressive run down the left flank. Rating: 6
How BBC Sport Readers Rated the Players