Squad Evaluations: The Three Lions Qualify for the Next World Cup
The national team earned their berth at the next World Cup with a decisive victory over their opponents on Tuesday evening.
The Starting Lineup
- Jordan Pickford β Pulled off a couple of good stops in the second half to preserve his impressive clean sheet streak. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
- Djed Spence β Has taken to international football seamlessly. Tougher tests lie ahead, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
- John Stones β A pair of fixtures in a short span will do the City defender a lot of good. Still one of the key players on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
- The centre-back β Picked ahead of his competitor and didn't put a foot wrong. Executed an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages to boot. 7
- The young defender β Looked a little not at his best at times, understandable given his lack of action at Arsenal. An promising few months ahead. 6
- The midfielder β Appears essential in this England team at the moment. Appears suited to this level and has developed an excellent partnership with Rice. 7
- The midfielder β Thriving in his number eight role. The mainstay of England's midfield is demonstrating his attacking abilities now. Becoming a genuine all-round midfielder. 7
- The forward β Less influential as he has been in England's wins over previous opponents. The answer will come next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
- Arsenal's star β Contributed an assist to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's chances next summer. 7.5
- Harry Kane β Playing brilliantly. Increased his count for the season to 20 scores. Has hit the back of the net 76 times for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
- Newcastle's attacker β Precise finish to open the scoring for England here in the Latvian capital. Has performed admirably during this international window. 7.5
England Substitutes
- The experienced midfielder (for Rice 60) β Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
- Eberechi Eze (for Rogers 60) β Superbly finished goal and a menace. 7
- Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) β Has a fight on his hands to be selected when all are available. 6
- The defender (for Stones 71) β Typically, managed everything in the air. 6
- Marcus Rashford (for Gordon 71) β A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6
With a World Cup spot confirmed, the team can now turn their attention for the upcoming tournament with high hopes.