England cruised to a 3-0 win over Latvia in a World Cup qualifying match at London's Wembley Stadium on Monday, extending new coach Thomas Tuchel's flawless start to his tenure. Reece James ignited the scoreboard with a dazzling free kick, his first goal in 18 international appearances, while Eberechi Eze marked his debut goal for the Three Lions in a match highlighting England's depth and resilience.
Key Moments and Rising Stars
James, returning to the starting lineup after over a year, broke Latvia's defensive resistance with a 37th-minute curler into the top corner. Midfielder Morgan Rogers later orchestrated a decisive link-up with Declan Rice, setting up Harry Kane for a straightforward finish. Eze sealed the victory with a deflected strike, underscoring England's offensive versatility.
Tuchel's Tactical Vision
Tuchel praised James's performance, saying, "Reecey's quality is amazing. He looked sharp and delivered when it mattered." While acknowledging room for improvement, the German coach emphasized the importance of securing three points against a team ranked 136th in the world.
Group Standings Update
In other Group K action, Albania rebounded with a 3-0 win over Andorra, while Poland surged past Malta in Group G. Bosnia and Herzegovina maintained a perfect record in Group H with a 2-1 victory over Cyprus, and Romania secured its first points with a dominant 5-1 performance against San Marino.
