England have sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup after thrashing Latvia on Tuesday night. Albania’s win over Serbia at the weekend means that the Three Lions could officially book their spot in next summer’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States with a victory in Riga. Thomas Tuchel’s side headed to the Daugava Stadium full of confidence after their early blitz to brush aside Wales 3-0 in Thursday’s friendly at Wembley, and they were ruthless again as they ran out 5-0 winners this time.
It was a fifth consecutive win since the shock defeat by Senegal over the summer and England have won every game in qualifying so far without conceding a single goal, leaving them as winners of Group K and qualified with two games to spare. Harry Kane was back from injury to continue his fine start to the season with a brace, while Anthony Gordon opened the scoring and Eberechi Eze netted a late fifth off the bench after Maksims Tonisevs’ unfortunate own goal.
The pressure is now off England as they prepare to host Serbia at Wembley next month before finishing their qualification campaign away against Albania in Tirana. Follow Latvia vs England live below!
Latvia vs England highlights
- GOAL! Substitute Eze arrows in late fifth
- OWN GOAL! Spence cross bounces in off Tonisevs
- GOAL! Kane extends advantage with penalty
- GOAL! Kane doubles lead on stroke of half-time
- GOAL! Gordon makes breakthrough for England
- NO GOAL! Early Kane effort ruled out
Latvia 0-5 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:41 , George FloodFull-time
Another 5-0 rout on the road and ruthless England have qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals with two games to spare.
Their place in North America next summer is guaranteed ahead of final qualifiers at home to Serbia and away in Albania next month.
Never in doubt, 100 per cent record still intact and still no goals conceded in six games.
Group K winners.
Latvia 0-5 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:36 , George Flood91 mins: Kane lines up a free-kick in stoppage time, but it’s well off target.
Latvia 0-5 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:35 , George Flood89 mins: Konsa has his name taken for a shove as tempers flare late on in Riga.
A key block from Burn then denies Latvia a consolation goal.
Two minutes of added time signalled with Kane still hunting his hat-trick...
GOAL! Latvia 0-5 England | Eberechi Eze 86'
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:31 , George Flood86 mins: England score five away from home for the second qualifier in a row!
Good work from Bowen and Eze drifts into the box, eventually arrowing into the bottom corner.
Another fine England goal.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:24 , George Flood76 mins: Eze is chopped down before Bowen whips his free-kick wide of the near post.
Into the last 15 minutes in Riga.
Can England match their exploits in Belgrade and some of these substitutes impress?
Kane looks desperate for that hat-trick.
A bit surprised he’s still on actually after his ankle knock, despite what Tuchel said and there being no out-and-out replacement on the bench.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:22 , George Flood21 goals for Harry Kane by the middle of October!
Remarkable stuff.
🤖🏴 Harry Kane has scored 21 goals for club and country this season, brace for England tonight. pic.twitter.com/FtPsHgTFLm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 14, 2025
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:21 , George Flood74 mins: More near-misses for Latvia as Kane smashes straight at Zviedris following a corner.
Regza and Saveljevs have replaced Gutkovskis and Vapne.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:20 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
Just a matter of how many for England now. With four racked up already, Rashford, Eze and Bowen will be desperate to get in on the act in the final few minutes.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:19 , George FloodIt was actually Maksims Tonisevs with the unfortunate own goal for Latvia.
Apologies to Andrejs Ciganiks!
England have a fourth! ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 14, 2025
And it's a moment to forget for Maksims Tonisevs 🫣#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/Wrd7ZPZsIm
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:17 , George FloodAnother day, another England milestone for the irrepressible Harry Kane...
13 - Harry Kane has scored more than one goal in a match for England for the 13th time - a new Three Lions record, surpassing Nat Lofthouse's 12. Baker's. pic.twitter.com/5KUsDr1iWi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2025
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:16 , George Flood71 mins: Two more changes from Tuchel now before England force another corner.
Burn and Rashford replace Stones and Gordon.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:14 , George Flood68 mins: Daskevics is straight into the action as he forces a robust save from Pickford, with Ikaunieks’ follow-up acrobatics not coming off.
Tonisevs had just drilled just wide. Much better from Latvia, but of course it’s too little, way too late.
Pickford determined to keep another clean sheet on his 80th cap.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:12 , George Flood67 mins: Bowen drops the shoulder and then fires well wide of the back post. Tuchel was pleased with the effort.
Varslavans has been replaced by Daskevics for Latvia.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:10 , George Flood65 mins: England are pouring on the relentless pressure again here as Spence’s latest dangerous cross into the six-yard box is dived on by Zviedris.
Only a crucial last-gasp intervention from Ciganiks then stops Kane from completing his hat-trick.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:09 , George Flood63 mins: More danger for Latvia as Eze’s low strike is palmed away by Zviedris.
Gordon goes down and wants a penalty, nothing given.
Latvia 0-4 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:08 , George Flood60 mins: Eze, Bowen and Jordan Henderson are all on for England after that fourth goal.
Rogers, Saka and Rice head off.
GOAL! Latvia 0-4 England | Maksims Tonisevs OG 58'
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:03 , George Flood58 mins: It’s four before the hour!
Spence's wicked first-time cross from the right after a pass from Saka gets a touch from the goalkeeper before bouncing in off the unfortunate Ciganiks.
Here come the England changes...
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:00 , George Flood55 mins: Suddenly Latvia spark into life!
Konsa is forced into a goal-saving recovery tackle on Gutkovskis, who later lets fly with a rasping effort that narrowly evades the far post with Pickford at full stretch.
Where has that been all night?
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:58 , George Flood53 mins: England remain in total domination mode as they patiently await another opening and the chance for a fourth goal.
They are knocking the ball around nicely, with weary Latvia chasing shadows.
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:54 , George Flood48 mins: England look to pick up where they left off and Tonisevs takes down Lewis-Skelly.
Rice’s in-swinging free-kick towards the near post is skimmed behind off the head of Ciganiks.
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:51 , George FloodBack underway in Riga, where this could yet get much, much worse for Latvia.
No changes from Tuchel yet, but Maksims Tonisevs is on at right-back for Latvia.
Jurkovskis off.
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:47 , George FloodAn absolutely ice-cold penalty, too.
What a season he’s having.
PENALTY TO ENGLAND! ⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 14, 2025
Kane makes no mistake from the spot 🎯#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/gDDovHi89q
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:46 , George FloodVintage Harry Kane, this.
Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile...
Is that the goal that sends England to the World Cup? 🏴🏆
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 14, 2025
Kane doubles England's lead with a fine strike ⚽️⚽️#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/X2jkXocWR1
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:42 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
Super penalty from Kane.
Putting my neck on the line here. England have qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
Latvia 0-3 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:39 , George FloodHalf-time
As easy as it gets for England, who will seal qualification for the World Cup tonight - bar a catastrophic second-half collapse in Riga.
Kane could have had a hatful, Gordon the brightest spark.
No threat whatsoever from Latvia, aside from that handball shout against Konsa.
How bad will this get for the hosts?
GOAL! Latvia 0-3 England | Harry Kane (pen) 48'
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:35 , George Flood48 mins: So cool from Kane, who gives a little stutter step and then confidently sends Zviedris the wrong way from the spot.
It was Cernomordijs who gave away the penalty and he’s been booked.
England on easy street in Riga.
Latvia 0-2 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:34 , George Flood47 mins: The referee is sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR after Kane is dragged down at a corner.
Penalty given!
Latvia 0-2 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:33 , George Flood45 mins: Almost another in quick succession for Kane as his free header is tipped wide by Zviedris,
One minute of added time signalled.
GOAL! Latvia 0-2 England | Harry Kane 44'
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:29 , George Flood44 mins: England double the lead before the break!
It’s all so untidy from Latvia again outside their own box and Kane picks the loose ball up, finds half-a-yard and picks out the bottom corner despite Saka being in close proximity.
Absolutely lethal. England now surely World Cup-bound!
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:29 , George Flood43 mins: Anderson with a lack of composure as he miscues another effort well wide of the back post.
Zviedris is then very quickly off his line to deny Rice.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:27 , George Flood41 mins: Balodis gives the ball away dreadfully and then kicks away at Saka, earning a yellow card and giving England a dangerous free-kick to the right of the box.
Saka’s delivery is seen off by the head of Ciganiks.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:26 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
Elliot Anderson is so physical off the ball and tidy on it, once again. Hell of a find.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:25 , George Flood38 mins: Kane tries his luck again but drills a low effort wide of the post.
England would love to double their advantage before the interval and are certainly working hard at it.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:24 , George Flood36 mins: Gordon is at the heart of everything for England so far tonight, squaring up his marker before delivering a dangerous low cross that neither Rogers nor Kane can turn in from close range.
He also tries to pick out the far corner with an inventive finish, but it’s wide.
Gordon felt that should have been a corner but a goal kick is signalled.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:21 , George FloodA fine run and strike from Gordon, and a fine pass from Stones.
A stylish opener from England.
England take the lead! 🏴
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 14, 2025
Anthony Gordon finishes after a wonderful long pass from John Stones ⚽️#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/kO4KItQTcj
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:21 , George Flood33 mins: Jurkovskis with an important block as Kane tries to skip past and let fly.
The corners are stacking up for England as they search for a second goal before the break.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:18 , George Flood29 mins: Quick feet from Spence and he’s cleaned out by Ciganiks, who will be suspended for Latvia’s next qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade next month.
Replays show the handball shout was against Konsa, but that would have been very harsh indeed.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:16 , George Flood28 mins: England need to keep their wits about them here as Latvia break forward both before and after the goal, appealing for a penalty for handball on the latter occasion.
They have to make do with a corner after a quick VAR check. Cleared.
Latvia 0-1 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:15 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
Lovely goal, Stones up to Gordon.
Telling, very telling, that it comes from the one moment Latvia commit bodies, attack, and leave space for England to turn over and counter. Fine goal.
GOAL! Latvia 0-1 England | Anthony Gordon 26'
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:12 , George Flood26 mins: And there it is!
Gordon has been England’s biggest dangerman so far tonight and he races onto a ball over the top down the left, cutting inside Jurkovskis before rifling a brilliant effort beyond Zviedris and into the far corner.
His second goal for England. Will the floodgates now open?
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:11 , George Flood23 mins: Too much on that dinked cross from Lewis-Skelly for Kane and Latvia scramble away.
It’s total attack vs defence in this first half in what resembles a training game.
No breakthrough yet for England, but surely it’s coming as they continue to totally monopolise possession.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:09 , George Flood21 mins: England force a corner which Rice swings in from the right, nodded away by Cernomordijs.
Rogers’ dangerous delivery is also repelled.
England just need to stay patient here as Tuchel watches on, squatted down on his haunches on the touchline.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:06 , George Flood19 mins: The tricky Gordon looks to have got the better of both Jurkovskis and Latvia captain Cernomordijs down the England left, but the ball just went out of play before he tried to square for Saka inside the six-yard box.
Plenty of noise still being made by those England fans.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:04 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
England started brightly and have sustained their pressure.
They deserve the lead but must work harder to find one, with the first 20 minutes of the game almost gone.
Intensity has been impressive.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:03 , George Flood16 mins: England try to pick out the head of Rice inside the box but it’s taken away from him by the defender.
That’s a sloppy foul from Lewis-Skelly on Varslavans and Tuchel isn’t happy.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:01 , George Flood14 mins: England are continuing to pepper the box with crosses - the latest from Lewis-Skelly down the left flank - but Latvia are just about standing firm for now.
Tuchel gives the travelling support a thumbs up after they ask him for a song.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:58 , George Flood10 mins: There was a first brief flurry from Latvia a few moments ago, but Stones dealt with their delivery into the box.
England resume their domination and Kane picks out Anderson, whose difficult half-volley from the edge of the area is sliced well wide.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:56 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
After Tuchel's jibe at England's "silent" fans at Wembley on Thursday night, some of the 2,500 travelling supporters in Riga have offered their reply.
"Thomas Tuchel, we'll sing when we want" is the chant. Fair play. If you're going to give it, take it.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:54 , George Flood6 mins: England are dominating possession early on in Riga as you might expect, trying to find a way through Latvia’s predictable low block.
A lovely move sees Gordon steer in a brilliant cross for Kane, who volleys narrowly wide of the near post.
He should have buried that.
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:52 , George Flood3 mins: “Are we loud enough for you” and “we’ll sing when we want” are the early chants from the 2,500 travelling England fans, in response to Tuchel’s criticism of the Wembley atmosphere against Wales on Thursday.
Surprised they can see much positioned so far behind the pitch beyond the running track, with trees on the far side also obscuring their vision.
It’s certainly an interesting stadium!
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:49 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
A marginally offside goal after 47 seconds bodes well for England's chances of victory in Latvia, you feel…
Latvia 0-0 England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:47 , George Flood1 mins: An extremely fast start from England, who have the ball in the net already after a killer pass into the box as Saka squares for Kane to tap in.
But the offside flag is up, decision confirmed by VAR.
No goal, but a real statement of intent.
Underway in Riga
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:46 , George FloodReally enjoyed that Latvian anthem, with live singers. A lovely performance.
We’re underway in Riga, where Greece’s Anastasios Sidiropoulos is the referee.
Angelos Evangelou is on VAR duty.
Will England maintain their 100 per cent record and qualify for the World Cup with two games to spare?
Time to find out...
Tuchel confirms Guehi rest
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:40 , George FloodDon’t worry, Crystal Palace fans - Thomas Tuchel has confirmed to ITV ahead of kick-off in Riga that Marc Guehi is simply being given a rest tonight.
Here come the teams at the Daugava Stadium!
Time for the national anthems, with ‘God Save the King’ to be followed by ‘Dievs, svētī Latviju’.
Anderson starts again for England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:36 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
It feels very significant that Tuchel is selecting Elliot Anderson to start a fourth straight match for England.
He is emerging as the preferred partner for Declan Rice at the base of midfield.
Final preparations
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:25 , George FloodFinal preparations at the Daugava Stadium, where around 2,500 England fans have made the trip - a new ground to tick off.
Kick-off is now just over 20 minutes away in Riga, where it’s past 9pm.
Lewis-Skelly must grab England chance
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:13 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith
Thomas Tuchel sent a warning to Myles Lewis-Skelly when he announced his latest England squad that the Arsenal full-back must keep playing regular football for his club or risks it being more difficult to get in.
He is currently behind Riccardo Calafiori in Mikel Arteta’s thinking at left-back for Arsenal.
A big boost for Lewis-Skelly to start tonight then. The teenager must grasp the opportunity.
Tuchel insists England door open to high-profile omissions
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:09 , George FloodMuch of the focus during this England camp has been on the high-profile omission of Jude Bellingham, plus those of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Adam Wharton, among others.
Thomas Tuchel was asked in Riga last night what the players who didn’t make this latest squad should be feeling.
“The hunger to come back,” he said. “The door is always open.
“We will always have trouble choosing. For a football nation like England, we have a pool of talented players and we have to make a selection.
“So the ones in camp should feel first of all privileged but they should also feel the hunger to keep the shirt.
"The ones who are not with us should also have the hunger to be with us when the next opportunity is and this is always through behaviour, through performance.
“The door is always open."
Tuchel calls on England to produce performance to be proud of
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:55 , George FloodLatvia - whose only major tournament appearance to date as an independent nation came back at Euro 2004 - are currently ranked at 137th in the world by FIFA, between the Faroe Islands and Turkmenistan.
Despite their lowly billing and difficult run of form, Thomas Tuchel has urged his England players to respect tonight’s opponents and the task at hand.
"It's the same preparation,” he said. “It's the same amount of meetings. It's the same set-up.
“It's very important to prepare in the same manner as you would prepare any opponent. Of course we are aware we are the favourites.
“We expect a win, but we need to be prepared of how to win, where to find the spaces. We demand the respects of the game.
"We expect a deep block in a 4-5-1, maybe a 3-5-2, we need to have answers to that.
“We don't want to get away with 80 or 90 per cent. We want to put in a performance that we will be happy with.”
A little peek inside the England dressing room at the Daugava Stadium, where kick-off is just over an hour away
Inside our dressing room 🏴 pic.twitter.com/MbdZspHinS
— England (@England) October 14, 2025
Three Latvia changes after Andorra draw
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:36 , George FloodLatvia show three changes from the team held to a dispiriting 2-2 home draw by 10-man Andorra on Saturday.
Lukas Vapne, Roberts Veips and Janis Ikaunieks replace Roberts Savalnieks, Aleksejs Saveljevs and Dario Sits, who is not on the bench.
Latvia lineup
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:29 , George FloodLatvia XI: Zviedris, Vapne, Jurkovskis, Cernomordijs, Balodis, Ciganiks, Varslavans, Veips, Zelenkovs, Gutkovskis, Ikaunieks
Subs: Orols, Matrevics, Jagodinskis, Grabovskis, Daskevics, Savalnieks, Penkevics, Pulis, Tonisevs, Regza, Melniks, Saveljevs
Two England changes from Wales win
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:29 , George FloodSo it’s as per the BBC for England then, with captain Harry Kane back to replace the injured Ollie Watkins in attack.
Myles Lewis-Skelly also starts in place of the rested Marc Guehi, with Ezri Konsa moving to centre-back to partner John Stones and presumably Djed Spence switching over to the right of defence with Lewis-Skelly on the left.
Otherwise it’s the same team that started against Wales at Wembley, with Marcus Rashford on the bench again.
England lineup
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:21 , George FloodEngland XI: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Stones, Lewis-Skelly, Anderson, Rice, Saka, Rogers, Gordon, Kane
Subs: Guehi, J Henderson, Eze, Rashford, Burn, D Henderson, Gibbs-White, Loftus-Cheek, Bowen, Trafford, O’Reilly
Kane and Lewis-Skelly set to start with Guehi rested
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:16 , George FloodSome early England team news is dropping courtesy of the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, who confirms that Harry Kane is back leading the attack tonight after shaking off that ankle injury.
He also says that Marc Guehi is being rested with Myles Lewis-Skelly starting in defence.
So obviously that will be the injured Ollie Watkins out, with Lewis-Skelly presumably playing at left-back and the versatile Djed Spence shifted over to the right.
Ezri Konsa will presumably move inside to partner John Stones in central defence.
We should get official confirmation very shortly.
Pickford out to extend England clean sheet record on 80th cap
Tuesday 14 October 2025 18:09 , George FloodNo1 Jordan Pickford will hit a milestone of sorts for England tonight as he prepares to earn his 80th senior cap.
He is also looking to further extend his new national record of eight consecutive clean sheets set against Wales on Thursday that saw him move clear of the great Gordon Banks.
"It is good when you break them, but everyone knows what I am like - a team player," said Pickford, who is also set to sign a new contract at Everton.
"I will take credit sometimes, but I think it is a collective sport. We win together, we defend together and we attack together.
"Like Harry (Kane) says, the defence starts from on top, it is all 11 of us putting a shift in. When I am called upon, I will make the saves.
"It is great to have that milestone, hopefully I can break it again and get nine."
Stage is set
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:58 , George FloodDarkness has quickly fallen upon the Daugava Stadium, the biggest ground in Latvia which has a running track around a good-looking pitch, a capacity of 10,461 and is home of FK Metta of the Virsliga.
Reigning Latvian champions FK RFS have also played European fixtures here.
England have never previously played a senior game in Latvia, with their 3-0 win at Wembley back in March in Thomas Tuchel’s second match in charge the only previous meeting between the two nations to date.
Reece James scored a wonderful free-kick that night before further goals from Harry Kane and Eberechi Eze.
It’s worth noting that Latvia are two hours ahead of the UK, so it will be almost 10pm local time when the game kicks off.
Rashford gets World Cup chance amid Tuchel challenge
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:45 , George FloodOne of Thomas Tuchel’s first acts as England head coach was to bring Marcus Rashford in from the cold after a year in the international wilderness, writes Dom Smith.
Rashford had not been selected for England since March 2024 when Tuchel named him in his first squad in March this year.
He played more than 70 minutes in both of Tuchel’s first two matches in charge, against Albania and Tuesday’s opponents Latvia, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Rashford played both matches last month, scoring a late penalty in the five-star win over Serbia in Belgrade, and is hoping for further game time in Riga on Tuesday.
If he does feature, Rashford, now on loan at Barcelona, will earn his 65th cap.
That is a reminder of his relative experience compared with many of his England team-mates these days, and of quite how long ago it was that an 18-year-old Rashford took international football by storm, scoring a first goal for his country not even three minutes into his debut in 2016.
Tuchel sends Rashford warning over wasted potential
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:43 , George FloodMarcus Rashford could be given a chance to impress from the off in Riga tonight, having been used regularly as a substitute by England of late amid a fantastic start to life on loan at Barcelona.
But despite his impressive early form in LaLiga, Thomas Tuchel has warned Rashford that he is not reaching his potential and does not want to be disappointed when he looks back on his career in a decade’s time.
"I think that is the headline for him (consistency)," the England boss said on Monday. "To keep on pushing himself to the limit.
"I think the limit for him is very, very high. Maybe higher than for others. He has the potential but potential is a dangerous word with high-level sports.
"You have to reach your personal best on a regular basis, that is what is demanded on this kind of level and that is the challenge for him.
"It's not a question of talent, it's a question of whether he can prove the point at club and international level.
"This is his task, whether he starts for us or comes off the bench he has to constantly prove himself.
"He can be one of the best in the world because the quality I see in training, the finishing with both legs and with the head.
"He is explosive, he is fast, he is strong in the air, so where are the limits?
"There are no limits - but the numbers don't reach the potential, it is as easy as that.
"He need to push himself into goal involvements, that means goals and assists, it is as easy as that.
"I think he is still on that. He still has to make these decisions.
“He is still in that moment, he is still young enough to take the right decisions, and not let go.
"Because otherwise he will be disappointed in 10 years at what could have been and what he made of it."
What England need to qualify for World Cup
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:36 , George FloodSo, Albania’s 1-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade on Saturday made the task for England very simple tonight - win in Riga and they will qualify for the World Cup with two games to spare in November, at home to Serbia and away in Albania.
England are top of the group with a perfect record of five wins from five and no goals conceded with 13 scored, with their +13 goal difference some 10 better than Albania.
Fail to win tonight and the Three Lions would likely only need a point at home to Serbia next month to seal their spot in next summer’s finals.
But it would be a massive shock if they did not achieve it this evening.
Latvia vs England prediction
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:27 , George FloodEngland are overwhelming favourites for another strong victory on their first visit to Riga, having blitzed Wales early on at Wembley in a thoroughly straightforward friendly triumph.
The only disappointment - other than Thomas Tuchel’s unhappiness with the crowd - was that they did not add further to their commanding lead after the 20-minute mark, but all in all it was still another accomplished display to follow the 5-0 demolition of Serbia in Belgrade.
Latvia’s qualifying campaign under Paolo Nicolato hit a new low on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by minnows Andorra, who finished the game with 10 men.
They still have just one win to their name in Group K, which was in Andorra back in March, and should not pose a credible threat to England’s hopes of guaranteeing World Cup qualification with two games to spare, though their previous home draw with Albania and narrow loss to Serbia suggests they are capable of making things tricky on their day.
England to win, 3-0.
Latvia team news
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:26 , George FloodWhile England’s captain is back tonight, Latvia’s remains absent.
Versatile midfielder Kristers Tobers was injured playing for Aberdeen against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership last month and is unavailable to Italian head coach Paolo Nicolato.
Uncapped duo Ingars Pulis and Danila Patijcuks were called up this month in place of the injured Alvis Jaunzems and Bruno Melnis, with Dario Sits of Atletico Madrid B added late after an earlier-than-expected recovery.
Roberts Uldrikis and Raimonds Krollis are among Latvia’s other notable absentees.
England team news
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:19 , George FloodEngland have been handed a major boost for tonight’s game with Harry Kane declared fit to start after missing the win over Wales with an ankle injury suffered playing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
He will come back into the attack at the expense of Ollie Watkins, who has returned to Aston Villa with a knock suffered after he collided painfully with the post after missing a late first-half chance at Wembley.
"Very easy with Harry, he can play and is fit. We did the right thing," Thomas Tuchel said on Kane’s fitness at his pre-match press conference last night.
"Top in training and ready to go. I don't see why he should not be able to play 90 minutes. I don't see any obstacles."
Uncapped defender Jarell Quansah also withdrew from the England squad over the weekend through injury as his wait for a maiden senior international appearance continues.
How to watch Latvia vs England
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:16 , George FloodTV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be televised live and free-to-air on ITV1 with coverage beginning at 7pm BST.
Live stream: The match will also be available to watch live online via the ITVX app and website, which is free with a sign-up.
Latvia vs England live
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:13 , George FloodEngland are in Latvia this evening for the first time as they look to guarantee their spot at next summer’s World Cup.
The Three Lions are in confident mood after their impressive 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley on Thursday and head to Riga knowing that they will officially book qualification for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States with a fourth consecutive victory tonight.
England have captain and all-time record scorer Harry Kane back from injury as they seek to get the job done with two games to spare at the Daugava Stadium, where kick-off is at 7:45pm BST.
Stay tuned for match build-up, breaking team news and live game updates, with analysis from Standard Sport’s England reporter Dom Smith.
