Player Evaluations: England Book Their Place for the Upcoming Tournament

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

The Starting Lineup

  • The goalkeeper – Made a couple of good saves in the second half to maintain his remarkable clean sheet record. It's now nine consecutive in a row. 6.5
  • The defender – Seems at home in international football with ease. Sterner tests are coming, of course, but a promising start to his England career. 7
  • John Stones – A pair of fixtures in less than a week will do the City defender a lot of good. Still one of the key players on the team-sheet, fitness permitting. 7
  • Aston Villa's defender – Chosen ahead of the other option and didn't put a foot wrong. Made an outstanding last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages to boot. 7
  • Arsenal's talent – Looked a little off the pace at times, understandable given his scarce minutes at his club. An promising few months ahead. 6
  • Newcastle's star – Appears essential in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has formed an productive partnership with Rice. 7
  • The midfielder – Enjoying his attacking role. The mainstay of England's midfield is demonstrating his creative abilities now. Emerging as a genuine all-round midfielder. 7
  • The forward – Not as impactful as he has been in England's successes over previous opponents. We should find out next month who is the true owner of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • Bukayo Saka – Provided an setup to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be key to England's hopes next summer. 7.5
  • The captain – At his peak. Took his tally for the season to 20 scores. Has hit the back of the net 76 occasions for his country. Is 100 possible 100? 8
  • Anthony Gordon – Clinical finish to open the scoring for England here in away. Has performed admirably during this international window. 7.5

The Bench Players

  • The veteran (for Rice 60) – Kept play flowing in midfield. 6
  • Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a danger. 7
  • West Ham's attacker (for Saka 60) – Has a fight on his hands to be selected when the squad is full. 6
  • Dan Burn (for Stones 71) – Typically, dealt with everything in the air. 6
  • Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – A speedy dash down the left stood out. 6

After qualification confirmed, the squad can now prepare for the upcoming tournament with optimism.

Michael Lawrence
Michael Lawrence

Lena is a passionate esports journalist and gaming enthusiast, known for her detailed analysis and engaging storytelling.