England earned their place at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory over their opponents on the midweek fixture.
The Starting Lineup
- Jordan Pickford – Pulled off a couple of good stops in the second half to maintain his remarkable clean sheet streak. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
- The full-back – Seems at home in international football like a duck to water. Tougher tests await, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
- The defender – Two games in a short span will do the Manchester City defender a lot of good. Still one of the key players on the team-sheet, fitness permitting. 7
- Ezri Konsa – Chosen ahead of his competitor and performed solidly. Executed an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the closing period to boot. 7
- The young defender – Looked a slightly off the pace at times, understandable given his scarce minutes at Arsenal. An intriguing few months ahead. 6
- Elliott Anderson – Seems irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Appears tailored for this level and has struck up an productive partnership with Rice. 7
- Arsenal's engine – Enjoying his advanced midfield role. The backbone of England's midfield is showing his creative abilities now. Emerging as a true 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 rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
- Arsenal's star – Added an assist to his superb goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
- The captain – In the form of his life. Boosted his total for the season to 20 strikes. Has scored 76 goals for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
- Anthony Gordon – Precise finish to start things off for England here in Riga. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5
The Bench Players
- The experienced midfielder (for Rice 60) – Kept things moving in midfield. 6
- The playmaker (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a threat. 7
- West Ham's attacker (for Saka 60) – Has a fight on his hands to be selected when everyone's fit. 6
- Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – As you'd expect, dealt with everything aerially. 6
- The forward (for Gordon 71) – A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6
After their place secured, the squad can now turn their attention for next summer with high hopes.
