Squad Evaluations: England Book Their Place for the Upcoming Tournament

Gareth Southgate's side clinched their berth at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory over Latvia on Tuesday evening.

The Starting Lineup

  • The goalkeeper – Made a few of excellent saves in the second half to preserve his remarkable clean sheet record. That's nine consecutive in a row. 6.5
  • The defender – Has taken to international football seamlessly. More challenging tests lie ahead, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
  • John Stones – A pair of fixtures in five days will do the Manchester City defender a great benefit. Remains one of the first names on the roster, fitness permitting. 7
  • Aston Villa's defender – Chosen ahead of Marc Guehi and was flawless. Made an excellent last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages 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
  • The midfielder – Seems essential in this England team at the moment. Looks suited to this level and has formed an strong partnership with Rice. 7
  • The midfielder – Enjoying his attacking role. The pillar of England's midfield is displaying his attacking abilities now. Emerging as a true all-round midfielder. 7
  • Morgan Rogers – Quieter as he has been in England's victories over previous opponents. It will be revealed next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • Arsenal's star – Contributed an key pass to his superb goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
  • Harry Kane – In the form of his life. Boosted his tally for the season to 20 scores. Has hit the back of the net 76 goals for his country. Is 100 possible 100? 8
  • The forward – Precise finish to open the scoring for England here in Riga. Has done a good job during this international window. 7.5

Subs' Impact

  • The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept things moving in midfield. 6
  • Eberechi Eze (for Rogers 60) – Superbly finished goal and a menace. 7
  • Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Battles on his hands to be selected when all are available. 6
  • The defender (for Stones 71) – Predictably, managed everything aerially. 6
  • Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left stood out. 6

With qualification secured, England can now turn their attention for the upcoming tournament with confidence.

Martha Martinez
Martha Martinez

Mira Chen is a tech journalist and futurist specializing in emerging technologies and their societal impacts, with over a decade of experience.