Player Ratings As England Put 5 Past Latvia

England Dispatch Latvia in Ruthless Fashion

England made short work of Latvia in Riga, sealing World Cup qualification with two games to spare. A five-goal showcase underlined the gulf between the sides, yet there was enough intrigue beyond the scoreline to satisfy those looking beyond the obvious. This was not merely another cruise on the road, it was further confirmation of an evolving hierarchy within the squad.

Gordon Sets the Tempo

From the outset, Anthony Gordon refused to treat Latvia as a formality. His opener, taken with composure after reading John Stones’s long pass, sparked the tone of the evening.  England did not dither in possession, nor were they passive out of it. Gordon’s hunger spread through the team like static through nylon.

Harry Kane, predictably, helped himself to two more goals. One rifled with his left, one dispatched from the penalty spot with his right. The catalogue grows, and with it, the question of how many he could reach before the flight to North America. Latvia’s Maksims Tonisevs added to the tally with one of those own goals that defenders wince over before it even crosses the line. Eberechi Eze completed the scoring late on with a confident run and finish.

Shapes Taking Form in Midfield

Elliot Anderson continues to look entirely unfazed by international football. His presence, neatly balanced by Declan Rice’s tidiness before the hour mark, gave England rhythm without fuss. Myles Lewis-Skelly showed both promise and raw edges, losing the ball at times but never hiding.

Djed Spence buzzed up and down the right, all restless limbs and intent, while Stones provided the calm alongside Ezri Konsa, who impressed with one excellent sliding tackle. Even in a one-sided contest, there was a rehearsal-like certainty to England’s structure.

Player Ratings

• Jordan Pickford 6
• Djed Spence 7
• John Stones 7
• Ezri Konsa 7
• Myles Lewis-Skelly 6
• Elliot Anderson 7
• Declan Rice 7
• Bukayo Saka 6
• Morgan Rogers 6
• Anthony Gordon 8
• Harry Kane 7
• Jordan Henderson 6
• Eberechi Eze 7
• Jarrod Bowen 6
• Marcus Rashford 6
• Dan Burn 5