ENGLAND 3, LATVIA 0
England got the job done but it was not the resounding victory against Latvia, a team 140th in the FIFA rankings, in their second World Cup qualifier.
It was at times laboured as Thomas Tuchel’s side needed to be patient as the breakthrough didn’t arrive until shortly before half time courtesy of a stunning free kick from Chelsea’s Reece James, his first goal for England.
Then in the final quarter, goals from Harry Kane – his 71st for England – and Eberechi Eze sealed victory which maintains their 100 per cent record from their two qualifiers.
Five goals, two clean sheets and six points is a satisfactory start for Tuchel, though Albania and Latvia are hardly major players in football and sterner tests yet to come.
Despite the victory being lukewarm, England had 27 goal attempts to Latvia’s three and 73.4 per cent possession in the first-ever meeting between the two natiobs.
If there was any criticism, England ought to have converted more of the many chances they created.
Tuchel said: “It was not an easy match. We saw a lot of good things, created good chances. We needed a free kick to unlock it. I’m happy with the attitude, energy and desire. We will get there.
“I know Reecey [James] and the quality the boy has is amazing. He has every right to be proud and happy with his performance. He is in excellent shape. He looks sharp, in shape and the quality there can be no doubt.
“The second half we started to slow the game down and made little movement, which makes no sense. But the second goal was better as we showed acceleration from one of our sixes. We encourage everyone to have these late accelerations, but we struggled a bit until the goal.”
Embed from Getty ImagesCaptain Harry Kane added: “I think there were more patterns of play, more chances than Friday. But again it was tough, playing against 11 behind the ball. Overall, we can be pleased with two wins and two clean sheets.
“We had to be patient. Thomas Tuchel is fantastic. He has settled in straight away. He is a pleasure to work for, he has brought the passion.”
England have named a starting line-up without a single Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool player for the first time since a 0-0 draw with France at Euro 1992.
Tuchel made four changes to the side which started their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Albania on Friday.
James and Marc Guehi came into the defence with Kyle Walker and Dan Burn dropping to the bench.
Morgan Rogers has taken Curtis Jones’ place in midfield for his first start for England with Jarrod Bowen getting the nod in attack ahead of Phil Foden.
Tuchel had said he would look to try five attackers in a team and with Rogers, Bellingham, Rashford, Bowen and Kane he has done that.
Latvia kick started their campaign with a 1-0 win away at Andorra, where the crowd was just 957, and were looking to maintain their 100 per cent record.
England dominated possession as expected but found difficulty breaking through two banks of five and four with little space between them.
Indeed, Latvia had the bext chance of the game in the 18th minute after a mix-up involving keeper Jordan Pickford and Guehl let in Vladislavs Gutkovskis who breezed past the pair but fired into the side netting.
That jolted England into action as Rashford had a penalty appeal rejected as he tumbled in the area and Ezri Konsa had a close-range shot brilliantly turned over the bar by keeper Krisjanis Zviedris whose reflexes were razor sharp.
England had a second shout for a spot kick rejected, this time by VAR, after a challenge by keeper Zviedris on Bowen as England were laying siege to the visitor’ goal.
The breakthrough finally came in the 38th minute after they won a free kick 25 yards out after Myles Lewis-Skelly was fouled
James stepped forward to bend the ball over the defensive wall into the top corner for his first goal for England in his 18th international.
England almost doubled their lead in stoppage time when Bowen cut the ball back to Rogers whose shot was well kept out by Zviedris.
It was a measure of the frustration of fans early in the second half – nothing was happening – that paper aeroplanes began to fly from the stands. Latr there would be a Mexican wave.
Jude Bellingham, booked in the opening half, could have walked for another rash challenge but he escaped with a warning as he needed to tread carefully for the remainder of the match.
Tuchel made his first change on the hour as Bowen made way for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. That was soon followed by a second as Bellingham was replaced by Foden.
England finally found the net for a second time in the 68th minute when a crisp passing move involving Rashford and Rogers ended with Declan Rice firing over a low cross from the right for a simple tap-in by Kane at the far post for his 71st goal for England in 105 matches as he equalled Billy Wright’s total.
And it was like waiting for a bus as a third goal quickly followed as Eze cut in from the left and saw his shot deflect in off defender Antonijs Cernomordijs. It remains to be seen who eventually is credited for the goal.
Tuchel made a triple change as Rice, Rashford and Lewis-Skelly were replaced by Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Kyle Walker.
Rogers and Kane had chances in the dying minutes to win by a more emphatic margin but both efforts were well saved.