Key stats
- England have now qualified for eight successive FIFA World Cup tournaments (since 1998), extending their longest ever run
- England have kept a clean sheet in each of their last eight games in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, a run of 837 minutes without conceding a goal
- Harry Kane has now scored 45 goals in 41 major tournament qualifiers for England (World Cup/Euros)
Highlights
Match report
Thomas Tuchel made two changes to the side that defeated Wales five days ago, which included returning skipper Harry Kane to lead the side out in Riga, alongside the introduction of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Kane was quickly thrust into the action, having a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minute, before firing agonisingly wide from Anthony Gordon’s delivery.
The Three Lions were eager to get their flight booked to North America as soon as possible, with further chances for Gordon and Bukayo Saka in a purposeful and confident start.
It was only a matter of time before England found the breakthrough, and Gordon duly obliged after latching onto John Stones’ long ball forward before cutting inside from the left and unleashing an unstoppable strike past Krišjānis Zviedris.
Tuchel’s side were cruising their way towards another comfortable win when Kane rifled home a superb left-footed finish from distance, before converting from the penalty spot in the last kick of the half.
Paolo Nicolato’s side caused the Three Lions defence a brief moment of concern after the restart when Vladislavs Gutkovskis bore down on goal, but Ezri Konsa was on hand to make a perfectly-timed sliding challenge.
Unsurprisingly though, the next goal scored was an England one, albeit in largely fortuitous circumstances.
Djed Spence played a wicked cross in from the right-hand side, and Andrejs Cigaņiks inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at the far post.
Despite the seemingly futile task ahead of them, Latvia remained undeterred, and roused the locals when chances fell to Maksims Toņiševs and Eduards Dašķevičs, with the latter forcing a largely inactive Jordan Pickford into action.
There was still time for Eberechi Eze to add a fifth with a well-taken finish and complete a fine night’s work.
Ultimately, this was about as straightforward a win as England could have hoped for, in a qualifying campaign where they have never been tested.
Tuchel’s side have scored 17 goals and conceded none in six qualifiers, but it remains to be seen if the German can lift the Three Lions’ perennial underachievers tag next summer and end almost 60 years of hurt for the men’s team.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Kane (England)
Post-match comments
England's Harry Kane to ITV Sport:
"Another tournament. We make it look easy, but these games can be tough, these groups can be tough. The level is high, and we are setting high standards, keeping the momentum we have built. The way I am seeing the passes, the runs, I am in a good moment.
"To qualify with two games to go is a great achievement, and with zero goals conceded. You want competition in every position, and we have that. There are players who will be itching to get back into the squad, and we need them as well.
"There will be a bit of chop and change, but that is the competition. We keep pushing each other and see where it takes us."
England manager Thomas Tuchel to ITV Sport:
"Brilliant, brilliant. Such a good mood in the dressing room. It is our dream to go to America, and we made it.
"Another good performance, a top result, six wins, a clean sheet. Very happy. We are dominant, hungry, winning a lot of balls in the opponent's half.
"It's good. We are on our way. It's a club feel, very aggressive, a high press, very demanding. Everyone needs to buy into the idea.
"The group is a very good group, a pleasure to coach. It's step by step."