Player Ratings: England Book Their Place for 2026 World Cup

England clinched their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing triumph over the Baltic side on the midweek fixture.

England's Starting XI

  • England's number one – Made a few of good saves in the second half to maintain his impressive clean sheet record. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
  • The full-back – Seems at home in international football with ease. Sterner tests lie ahead, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
  • Manchester City's centre-back – A pair of fixtures in five days will do the Manchester City defender a lot of good. Still one of the key players on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
  • The centre-back – Chosen ahead of his competitor and performed solidly. Made an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the second half to boot. 7
  • The young defender – Appeared a slightly ring rusty at times, understandable given his lack of action at Arsenal. An interesting few months ahead. 6
  • Elliott Anderson – Appears essential in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has developed an strong partnership with Rice. 7
  • Arsenal's engine – Excelling in his number eight role. The mainstay of England's midfield is demonstrating his offensive abilities now. Emerging as a true all-round midfielder. 7
  • The forward – Not as impactful as he has been in England's successes over Serbia and Wales. It will be revealed next month who is the leading candidate of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • The winger – Provided an setup to his brilliant goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's chances next summer. 7.5
  • Harry Kane – In the form of his life. Increased his count for the season to 20 scores. Has hit the back of the net 76 occasions for his country. Will he achieve 100? 8
  • Newcastle's attacker – Precise finish to start things off for England here in the Latvian capital. Has done a good job during this international window. 7.5

Subs' Impact

  • Jordan Henderson (for Rice 60) – Kept things moving in midfield. 6
  • Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a menace. 7
  • Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to be selected when all are available. 6
  • Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – As you'd expect, handled everything in the air. 6
  • Marcus Rashford (for Gordon 71) – A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6

With a World Cup spot secured, the squad can now focus for the upcoming tournament with optimism.

Patricia Randall
Patricia Randall

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter in the UK and beyond.