Player Evaluations: England Secure a Spot for the Upcoming Tournament
England clinched their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable win over Latvia on Tuesday night.
England's Starting XI
- Jordan Pickford β Pulled off a few of good saves in the latter period to extend his remarkable clean sheet streak. It's now nine straight in a row. 6.5
- The defender β Seems at home in international football with ease. Sterner tests await, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
- John Stones β Two matches in less than a week will do the Manchester City defender a world of good. Remains one of the first names on the team-sheet, fitness permitting. 7
- The centre-back β Chosen ahead of his competitor and didn't put a foot wrong. Made an excellent last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages to boot. 7
- Arsenal's talent β Looked a somewhat not at his best at times, understandable given his lack of action at his club. An interesting few months ahead. 6
- The midfielder β Seems undroppable in this England team at the moment. Seems tailored for this level and has struck up an productive partnership with Rice. 7
- Declan Rice β Thriving in his number eight role. The backbone of England's midfield is showing his attacking abilities now. Developing into a true all-round midfielder. 7
- The attacker β Less influential as he has been in England's victories over Serbia and Wales. It will be revealed next month who is the leading candidate of the number 10 shirt. 6
- Arsenal's star β Contributed an setup to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
- The striker β Playing brilliantly. Increased his count for the season to 20 scores. Has hit the back of the net 76 goals for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
- Newcastle's attacker β Sharp finish to start things off for England here in away. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5
England Substitutes
- Jordan Henderson (for Rice 60) β Maintained the tempo in midfield. 6
- Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) β Superbly finished goal and a danger. 7
- Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) β Faces competition on his hands to earn a place when the squad is full. 6
- Newcastle's full-back (for Stones 71) β As you'd expect, dealt with everything in the air. 6
- Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) β A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6
With qualification confirmed, England can now turn their attention for next summer with confidence.