RIGA: England secured qualification for next year’s World Cup finals with a comprehensive 5-0 away victory over Latvia on Tuesday, ensuring they will finish as winners of qualifying Group K.
While their place at a ninth consecutive major tournament had seemed a foregone conclusion throughout the campaign, the result officially allows the team to begin finalizing its preparations for the global showpiece.
Gareth Southgate’s side took 25 minutes to break down a resilient Latvian defense at the Daugava Stadium, with Anthony Gordon finally opening the scoring by cutting in from the left flank and firing past goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris.
The floodgates opened just before halftime as captain Harry Kane struck twice in quick succession. His first was a drilled finish after England capitalized on a risky attempt by the hosts to play out from the back. Kane then doubled his tally from the penalty spot after being fouled in the area.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with an own goal from Maksims Tonisevs in the 57th minute, who turned Djed Spence’s cross into his own net. Substitute Eberechi Eze completed the scoring late in the match with a well-taken finish to cap off a straightforward evening.
The victory means England, under manager Gareth Southgate, maintain a perfect record with 18 points from six games, having scored 18 goals and conceded none. They are the first European nation to officially seal a place in the finals.
Albania sit second in the group with 11 points, followed by Serbia on 10 after their win over Andorra. Latvia remain on 5 points.
“Another tournament, we make it look easy but we have to fully focus on every game,” said Kane, who extended his record England goal tally to 76. “It doesn’t matter who we play it’s about setting a high standard and keeping the momentum.”
