England v Latvia LIVE: Three Lions pull away from stubborn minnows late on in World Cup qualifier
England 3-0 Latvia: Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions were frustrated for large parts by the minnows but Reece James’s stunning free-kick plus late goals from Harry Kane and Eberechi Eze ensured victory
England beat Latvia 3-0 as Reece James and Eberechi Eze both scored their first senior international goals to help make it two wins out of two for Thomas Tuchel's side in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Chelsea right back James, making his first England start since 2022, curled in a sublime free-kick to break the deadlock in the 38th minute of the Group K clash at Wembley.
As against Albania on Friday, England laboured at times to break down a massed defence but captain Harry Kane doubled the lead in the 68th with a tap-in from Declan Rice's pass.
Eze then came off the bench and his deflected shot made it 3-0 in the 76th minute. Favourites England top the group on six points with Albania, who beat Andorra 3-0 in Monday's other fixture, and Latvia on three.
Relive all the action with our live blog below as England beat Latvia at Wembley:
GOAL! England 3-0 Latvia (Eberechi Eze, 75 mins)
Are England pulling away now? Eberechi Eze has his first England goal.
He has space down the left and runs at defenders. Jinks one way, then the other, has a shot across goal and it deflects in off the bum of Latvia skipper Cernomordijs.
That was the direct play Tuchel has been talking about.
England 2-0 Latvia, 71 mins
Phil Foden came on for England shortly before that second goal. He wasn’t involved but a second game in a row where another goal has come shortly after a substitution.
England try to break from a Latvia corner. Rashford hares down the left but he’s forced wide and has to play the ball to the overlapping Kane rather than across to Foden and it breaks down.
GOAL! England 2-0 Latvia (Harry Kane, 68 mins)
And there’s finally the second goal for England. Nice build-up as Rogers slips a pass in for Rice who has made a great run into the box, he fizzes it across goal and Harry Kane is at the back post to turn it in.
That’s the 71st goal of Kane’s England career. He’s miles clear as their all-time top scorer.
CLOSE! England 1-0 Latvia, 64 mins
Not far away. Kane picks the ball up on the edge of the area, tries to direct the ball into the bottom corner but it bounces narrowly wide.
Close but frustration for the England skipper
England 1-0 Latvia, 61 mins
Changes for England. Jarrod Bowen trudges off and Eberechi Eze is on in his place. The Three Lions need a spark.
A couple of Latvia subs as well, with Dario Sits and Eduards Daskevics coming on
England 1-0 Latvia, 58 mins
Bellingham has to be careful here. He’s on a yellow card and gets himself involved in a bit of nonsense after a heavy challenge.
I wonder if Tuchel will sub him off for his own good? It’s been a slightly low-key start to this second half. England need to up the tempo.
England 1-0 Latvia, 53 mins
Bellingham teases his way into a crossing position but a dark red wall of bodies stop him getting a meaningful cross in.
On the other side, Rashford’s cross is blocked for a corner.
First sub of the day as Saveljevs comes off with Vitalijs Jagodinskis on for Latvia
England 1-0 Latvia, 48 mins
A slide tackle from Rice on Ikaunieks, who isn’t happy about it but he got the ball first. England pressing hard again early in this second half.
KICK-OFF! England 1-0 Latvia
Back underway at Wembley. Can England move the ball a bit quicker in this second half?
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