Squad Assessments: England Book Their Place for 2026 World Cup

Gareth Southgate's side earned their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable triumph over their opponents on the midweek fixture.

The Starting Lineup

• The goalkeeper – Pulled off a couple of good stops in the latter period to extend his remarkable clean sheet run. That's nine in a row. 6.5
• The full-back – Has adapted to international football with ease. Sterner tests await, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
• John Stones – A pair of fixtures in a short span will do the City defender a world of good. Remains one of the automatic picks on the roster, fitness permitting. 7
• Ezri Konsa – Chosen ahead of Marc Guehi and was flawless. Made an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages to boot. 7
• The young defender – Appeared a slightly off the pace at times, understandable given his lack of action at Arsenal. An intriguing few months ahead. 6
• The midfielder – Looks irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Looks made for this level and has formed an excellent partnership with Rice. 7
• The midfielder – Excelling in his attacking role. The backbone of England's midfield is displaying his offensive abilities now. Developing into a real all-round midfielder. 7
• The forward – Not as impactful as he has been in England's successes over Serbia and Wales. The answer will come next month who is the true owner of the number 10 shirt. 6
• Arsenal's star – Provided an key pass to his brilliant goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be crucial to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
• The striker – In the form of his life. Boosted his tally for the season to 20 goals. Has hit the back of the net 76 times for his country. Is 100 possible 100? 8
• The forward – Sharp finish to get the ball rolling for England here in Riga. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5

England Substitutes

• The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
• Eberechi Eze (for Rogers 60) – Superbly finished goal and a menace. 7
• West Ham's attacker (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to earn a place when the squad is full. 6
• Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – As you'd expect, managed everything in the air. 6
• Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left was noticeable. 6

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