BY IONA BENNETT
It was a straightforward victory for England, in a game in which anything other than three points would have been considered bitterly disappointing. However, desgpite the 3-0 scoreline and clean sheet, fans voiced a familiar frustration after the full-time whistle: the team performance did not live up to the quality suggested by the talent of the individual players. For generations, far from being a team which is greater than the sum of its parts, England have been haunted by the possibility of truly world-class potential which they have been unable to properly capitalise upon. Perhaps this is why many seemed unimpressed with Tuchel’s new side, despite five goals being scored across two games and none being conceded.
Going into the game, England knew a win against a side ranked over 130 places below them should be routine. From the first whistle, it was clear that Latvia would sit off in a low block and wait to be broken down. Few rose to that challenge better than Marcus Rashford, who responded positively to the criticism both he and Phil Foden received from Tuchel last Friday following their game against Albania. The out-of-favour United-turned-Villa winger was lively, constantly looking to drive forward and routinely producing ankle-breaking moments, cutting in and out of defenders down the left wing and leaving Latvian players strewn in his wake.
Another player who impressed was Arsenal prodigy Myles Lewis-Skelly, who entered the game having picked up yet another accolade in the previous match, becoming the youngest scoring debutant in English history. Tuchel played the eighteen-year-old in the role he has excelled in at club level: the inverted fullback. This gave him the freedom to drift into the midfield in possession and become another six, creating an overload and progressing play.
Despite controlling the game, England initially struggled to break Latvia’s compact defensive structure. That was until a moment of brilliance from Reece James in the 38th minute, in which he curled a free-kick from 20 yards out into the top right corner, leaving the Latvian goalkeeper rooted.
Tuchel made minor adjustments at halftime, notably swapping Rashford and Bowen on the wings. In the 68th minute, a well-orchestrated move saw Declan Rice make a late third man run to the touchline, receiving a pass from Morgan Rogers before delivering a square ball to Harry Kane, who tapped it in at the back post. The goal offered what England fans would hope to be a glimpse into the future, demonstrating the type of dynamic and direct football the Lions can play when they are at their best.
The final goal came from substitute Eberechi Eze, who injected a sense of energy and excitement into the attacking line. In the 76th minute, he was rewarded for his efforts, beating his marker once again and driving into the box. His deflected effort hit the back of the net, marking his first senior international goal.
England’s defence remained largely untested, though a shaky moment of miscommunication between Pickford and Guéhi in the 17th minute nearly gifted Latvia an early goal, with the angle proving too tight for Aleksejs Saveljevs to punish England properly.
Despite England clearly trying to play in a more aggressive and positive manner, fans and pundits’ opinions of the game largely echoed those of their earlier fixture, which ended in a 2-0 victory. Matt Upson could well have reused his statement that “it was a difficult game from a spectating perspective” as well as his analysis: “Once we got into the rhythm, it was very much an England game at Wembley against inferior opposition where they struggled to break them down.” The statistics certainly support this assessment. Against Albania, England had 74% of possession and completed the most passes in the first half on Opta’s record of any England game. Likewise, against Latvia, they had an impressive 73% of possession, but only eight out of their twenty-seven shots were on target. While Rashford, Eze, and Morgan Rogers produced moments of brilliance, these often did not translate into goals, nor into the sense of excitement and promise that Tuchel wants to cultivate within his team’s playing style.
Expectations of the Lions are always high amongst fans, who will not be satisfied until a trophy is brought home. However, those taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) in their hordes to criticise the match and call England ‘boring’ would do well to remember that this was only the German’s second game in charge. While some might say ‘same old England,’ signs of Tuchel’s new management have already started to take shape. As mentioned, players looked to be more direct and engage in one-on-one duels, while out of possession the press looked sharper and more intense than it had under Gareth Southgate.
While the performance may not have been what fans had hoped for, it was a professional win that ensured England remain on track. As Tuchel continues to fine-tune his squad and tactics, only time will tell if this marks the start of a more dynamic and – most importantly – trophy-winning era for the Three Lions.
