Squad Evaluations: England Secure a Spot for the Next World Cup
Gareth Southgate's side earned their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a decisive victory over their opponents on Tuesday night.
First Eleven Performance
- England's number one – Made a couple of good saves in the latter period to maintain his impressive clean sheet run. That's nine consecutive in a row. 6.5
- Djed Spence – Has taken to international football seamlessly. Sterner tests await, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
- John Stones – Two games in less than a week will do the Manchester City defender a great benefit. Still one of the key players on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
- The centre-back – Selected ahead of the other option and was flawless. Executed an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the second half to boot. 7
- Myles Lewis-Skelly – Looked a little ring rusty at times, expected given his scarce minutes at his club. An interesting few months ahead. 6
- The midfielder – Seems irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Appears suited to this level and has formed an strong partnership with Rice. 7
- Declan Rice – Enjoying 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 attacker – Quieter as he has been in England's successes over Serbia and Wales. It will be revealed next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
- The winger – Provided an assist to his superb goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's chances next summer. 7.5
- The captain – Playing brilliantly. Increased his tally for the season to 20 strikes. Has scored 76 goals for his country. Is 100 possible 100? 8
- Anthony Gordon – Clinical finish to open the scoring for England here in Riga. Has done a good job during this break. 7.5
England Substitutes
- Jordan Henderson (for Rice 60) – Maintained the tempo in midfield. 6
- The playmaker (for Rogers 60) – Superbly finished goal and a menace. 7
- The winger (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to be selected when all are available. 6
- Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – Predictably, handled everything in the air. 6
- The forward (for Gordon 71) – A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6
With qualification secured, the squad can now focus for the upcoming tournament with high hopes.