Squad Evaluations: The Three Lions Book Their Place for the Upcoming Tournament
England clinched their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable victory over their opponents on Tuesday night.
First Eleven Performance
- The goalkeeper β Made a couple of good saves in the second half to preserve his impressive clean sheet streak. It's now nine in a row. 6.5
- The full-back β Has taken to international football like a duck to water. Tougher tests await, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
- Manchester City's centre-back β A pair of fixtures in a short span will do the Manchester City defender a world of good. Remains one of the automatic picks on the roster, fitness permitting. 7
- Aston Villa's defender β Picked ahead of his competitor and was flawless. Made an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the closing period to boot. 7
- Arsenal's talent β Appeared a slightly off the pace at times, expected given his limited game time at Arsenal. An promising few months ahead. 6
- The midfielder β Seems undroppable in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has formed an excellent partnership with Rice. 7
- Arsenal's engine β Excelling in his advanced midfield role. The mainstay of England's midfield is demonstrating his attacking abilities now. Developing into a true all-round midfielder. 7
- The forward β Quieter as he has been in England's successes over Serbia and Wales. It will be revealed next month who is the leading candidate of the number 10 shirt. 6
- Arsenal's star β Provided an key pass to his superb goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
- Harry Kane β In the form of his life. Boosted his total for the season to 20 strikes. Has hit the back of the net 76 times for his country. Will he achieve 100? 8
- Anthony Gordon β Sharp finish to open the scoring for England here in Riga. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5
Subs' Impact
- The experienced midfielder (for Rice 60) β Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
- Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) β Excellently taken goal and a threat. 7
- Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) β Has a fight on his hands to make the squad when everyone's fit. 6
- Newcastle's full-back (for Stones 71) β Predictably, handled everything aerially. 6
- The forward (for Gordon 71) β One pacy run down the left stood out. 6
With their place confirmed, the team can now turn their attention for the upcoming tournament with confidence.