Squad Assessments: The Three Lions Qualify for the Upcoming Tournament

England clinched their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a decisive win over Latvia on the midweek fixture.

England's Starting XI

  • England's number one – Pulled off a couple of fine saves in the second half to extend his impressive clean sheet record. It's now nine consecutive in a row. 6.5
  • The full-back – Seems at home in international football with ease. Tougher tests are coming, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
  • Manchester City's centre-back – A pair of fixtures in a short span will do the City defender a lot of good. Still one of the first names on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
  • Ezri Konsa – Picked ahead of Marc Guehi and didn't put a foot wrong. Made an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the closing period to boot. 7
  • Myles Lewis-Skelly – Appeared a somewhat off the pace at times, expected given his scarce minutes at Arsenal. An promising few months ahead. 6
  • The midfielder – Seems undroppable in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has formed an productive partnership with Rice. 7
  • Declan Rice – Excelling in his advanced midfield role. The mainstay of England's midfield is demonstrating his offensive abilities now. Becoming a real all-round midfielder. 7
  • Morgan Rogers – Not as impactful as he has been in England's victories over previous opponents. We should find out next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • The winger – Contributed an setup to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be crucial to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
  • The captain – At his peak. Increased his count for the season to 20 strikes. Has found the net 76 goals for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
  • The forward – Precise finish to start things off for England here in Riga. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5

Subs' Impact

  • The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
  • The playmaker (for Rogers 60) – Superbly finished goal and a menace. 7
  • Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Faces competition on his hands to make the squad when all are available. 6
  • The defender (for Stones 71) – As you'd expect, handled everything with his height. 6
  • Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6

After qualification confirmed, the squad can now focus for the upcoming tournament with confidence.

Connie Walsh
Connie Walsh

Tech enthusiast and AI researcher with a passion for demystifying complex innovations and their real-world applications.