Player Assessments: The Three Lions Qualify for the Upcoming Tournament

Gareth Southgate's side secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory over Latvia on Tuesday night.

England's Starting XI

  • England's number one – Pulled off a few of excellent stops in the latter period to maintain his remarkable clean sheet record. That's nine in a row. 6.5
  • The defender – Has taken to international football with ease. Tougher tests lie ahead, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
  • Manchester City's centre-back – A pair of fixtures in five days will do the City defender a world of good. Still one of the automatic picks on the roster, fitness permitting. 7
  • Aston Villa's defender – Chosen ahead of his competitor and was flawless. Made an excellent last-ditch recovery tackle in the closing period to boot. 7
  • Myles Lewis-Skelly – Looked a slightly ring rusty at times, understandable given his limited game time at Arsenal. An intriguing few months ahead. 6
  • Newcastle's star – Appears irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Appears suited to this level and has developed an productive partnership with Rice. 7
  • Arsenal's engine – Enjoying his advanced midfield role. The pillar of England's midfield is showing his attacking abilities now. Developing into a true all-round midfielder. 7
  • The attacker – Not as impactful as he has been in England's wins over previous opponents. The answer will come next month who is the leading candidate of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • Bukayo Saka – Added an key pass to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be crucial to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
  • The striker – In the form of his life. Boosted his tally for the season to 20 strikes. Has scored 76 occasions for his country. Is 100 possible 100? 8
  • Anthony Gordon – Sharp finish to get the ball rolling for England here in the Latvian capital. Has done a good job during this international window. 7.5

Subs' Impact

  • The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept things moving in midfield. 6
  • Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) – Excellently taken goal and a danger. 7
  • The winger (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to earn a place when everyone's fit. 6
  • Newcastle's full-back (for Stones 71) – Typically, dealt with everything in the air. 6
  • Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left stood out. 6

With their place secured, the squad can now prepare for the World Cup with optimism.

Jamie Roberts
Jamie Roberts

Maya Chen is a network security specialist with over 10 years of experience in IT infrastructure and digital transformation projects.