England qualify for World Cup with rout of Latvia
RIGA: Harry Kane scored twice as England secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 5-0 thrashing of Latvia on Tuesday. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in Riga before Kane took his tally for club and country this season to 21 goals in 13 games. An Andrejs Ciganiks own goal and Eberechi Eze’s strike rounded off the scoring as the Three Lions guaranteed top spot in Group K of UEFA qualifying with two games to spare. Thomas Tuchel has completed his first task with ease as his side became the first European nation to qualify. England have won all six of their qualifiers since the German took charge, scoring 18 goals without conceding. After a slow start to Tuchel’s reign with unconvincing victories over Albania and Andorra, plus a friendly defeat to Senegal in June, England have clicked into gear over the past two international breaks. Tuchel’s decision to leave out fit-again Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden from his squad this month was questioned. But the former Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss has been rewarded for implementing continuity with his selection. Gordon is one of those to benefit from a run of games on the left of a front three. The Newcastle winger opened the floodgates when he cut inside to curl into the far corner for just his second England goal on 26 minutes. Kane had uncharacteristically missed a glorious early chance when he steered a Gordon cross wide. The Bayern Munich striker soon found his range with two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half to take his international tally to 76 in 110 caps. Despite losing his balance, Kane steered a shot into the far corner off his weaker left foot to double England’s lead. Kane then accepted the gift of a soft penalty
