The early stages of this second match under Thomas Tuchel's reign started very slowly, and boringly if truth be told. However, as the match progressed, England warmed to their task and the positivity that we all craved for began to take seed. In fact, by the end of the match it became a quite satisfying performance, although with elements of the same old problems at times. Early on Marcus Rashford did tend to take his defender on, more so than against Albania in the previous game. The danger often came from his wing, whereas Jerod Bowen was a little more subdued. England had much of the possession again, but the first real chance fell to the visitors after 19 minutes. A long ball over the top was chased by Marc Guehi and Vladislavs Gutkovskis. Jordan Pickford came out and he and Guehi got themselves in a tangle and as the ball ran free Gutkovskis had a clear shot from an angle at an empty goal. Thankfully for England the forward sliced his shot well wide for a bad miss and a let off for the two England players.

A minute later and Rashford went down in the box for what looked a good case for a penalty, but the Israeli referee was having none of it and waved play on. On 24 minutes Declan Rice, busy all game, won a corner and from that Jude Bellingham saw an effort well saved by goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris, whilst Ezri Konsa almost reaches the rebound. By this time the England attacks were growing more frequent and another penalty shout came when the goalkeeper took Bowen out diving at his feet. Again though the referee was unimpressed, even after a VAR review. England won several corners and some of the pushing and shoving that went on was seemingly ignored again by the ref. Antonijis Cernomordijs was blatantly manhandling Harry Kane at every set piece and it was becoming more and more frustrating to watch those challenges going unpunished.

Rashford continued to be the most dangerous forward and one cross from him was met by a Bellingham flick that went wide. A goal did seem imminent at this stage of the match especially when Bowen's free-kick gave Bellingham a free header which he put over the top, much to the disappointment of the crowd. Bellingham tried again after Rashford once more fashioned a chance, and the Real Madrid player's shot was only cleared with much difficulty. In the 38th minute though, England did finally take the lead.

Another free-kick was given a fair way out to the right of goal, and I don't think anyone guessed who would take the kick, but in the end the stadium erupted as Reece James curled a beauty, round the wall and into the top corner with the keeper flat-footed. A super strike and no less than England deserved as reward for their pressure. In the last few minutes of the half, Rice weakly deflected a Rashford shot straight at the keeper, then Bellingham got a rather harsh yellow card, seeing as the visitors did not hold back in several of their rough tackles. The first and only breakaway of the match by the Latvians saw Alvis Jaunsems fire straight at Pickford, who held the ball comfortably and then right on the whistle Bowen had a shot blocked in another good chance, and then Morgan Rogers had a fine effort well blocked by Zviedris. As the players went off at the break, it looked odds on that more goals would follow after the restart.

At the start of the second-half, Myles Lewis-Skelly put a lovely pass through but the keeper was quickly out to stop Bellingham. Tuchel had switched the wings of Rashford and Bowen and England won several corners. The Latvian players were struggling to contain England's relentless attacking but then Bellingham, already booked, was pulled up for another foul. The way this ref had handled things it looked for a split second that a red card would be produced but the player was not punished, luckily. Meanwhile Rashford and Bowen still create problems for the Latvian defence. One fine ball in from the latter deserved to be touched home, but alas there was no-one in the middle to meet it. After that Bowen was taken off, with Eberechi Eze coming on.

On 63 minutes Kane's header whistles past a post when a goal seemed certain and then two minutes later Rogers and Kane combine for another close shave. On 70 minutes the manager took off Bellingham, mainly because he was in danger of being sent off if he committed just one more mistimed tackle, Phil Foden replacing him. Almost immediately the best move of the match finally settled the issue with a second England goal, and it was that man Kane again. Fine passing from Rogers to Rice and a first time ball into the middle and there was the main man again for goal number 71 for his country.

England had been much more positive in this match compared with the previous game, they still missed chances though and one of these days all those chances will go in and somebody will receive a thrashing. As for Pickford in goal for England, and winning his 75th cap, he could have gone home at half-time and no-one would have noticed. As I said that James had to show his defensive duties with a good tackle to stop Andresj Ciganiks reaching the Everton custodian.

Rashford then set up Kane for another shot, blocked this time, and then on 75 minutes a good break down the left gave Eze possession and he cut inside and fired a shot at goal. The shot was probably going in but it deflected off Cernomordiis, sending the keeper the wrong way. It was no less than the defender deserved for all the pushing and shoving he had got away with. It was Eze's first England goal. It could have been a fourth had Rogers passed to Foden after a good run ended with him shooting instead of passing. England then brought on Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Kyle Walker as subs, why, no-one quite knew?

Rogers seemed determined to score and he had another go which produced a good save, and then Kane went close too, whilst Guehi headed wide from another chance. It had been relentless attacking from England and right on the whistle the goalkeeper, who had been busy all night made yet another save. Overall the two games have given Thomas Tuchel a good start and there is no need for real criticism so far, that will come when the bigger fish come to town......or maybe not?
       

Source Notes