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flg.jpg) "STARS
AND SWIPES"
MirrorSport |
 Officials
from Greece |
Latvia
Squad |
Type |
England
Squad |
Referee
(black)
Anastasios Sidiropoulos
46 (9 August 1979), Rhodes, FIFA-listed 2011 |
6 |
Goal Attempts |
24 |
|
1 |
Attempts on Target |
7 |
|
Assistant Referees |
0 |
Hit Bar/Post |
0 |
|
Polychronis Kostaras |
Lazaros Dimitriadis |
2 |
Corner Kicks Won |
9 |
Fourth official Christos Vergetis,
35 (26 June 1989) |
0 |
Offside Calls Against |
1 |
Video
Assistant Officials |
11 |
Fouls Conceded |
5 |
|
Angelos Evangelou, 42 (23
July 1983) & Ioannis
Papadopoulos |
32% |
Possession |
68% |
|
|
|
Latvia Team |
| |
|
Rank |
FIFA (18
Sept 2025)
137th
EFO ranking
n/a ELO rating
144th |
Colours |
made by Adidas - dark red crew-necked jerseys, with orange
Adidas sleeve trim/side panel and white trim, red shorts
with white swooping trim, red socks with orange adidas trim |
|
Captain |
Antonijs Černomordijs |
Head Coach |
Paolo Nicolato, 58 (21 December 1966 in
Lonigo, Italy), appointed 5 February 2024. |
|
P 18th, W 3 - D 5 - L 10 - F 9 - A
26. |
Latvia Lineup |
|
1 |
Zviedris, Krišjānis |
28
262 days |
25 January 1997 |
Gk |
Riga FC |
7 |
10ᵍᵃ |
|
13 |
Jurkovskis, Raivis A., off
half-time |
28
309 days |
9 December 1996 |
RWB |
Riga FC |
56 |
0 |
|
4 |
Veips, Roberts |
25
234 days |
22 February 2000 |
RCD |
Fk RFS, on loan from FS Jelgava |
2 |
0 |
5
|
Černomordijs, Antonijs |
29
18 days |
26 September 1996 |
CD |
Riga FC |
44 |
2 |
 |
45th+3 min. for
pulling down Harry Kane that led to the penalty-kick |
2
|
Balodis, Daniels |
27
126 days |
10 June 1998 |
LCD |
FC
Tatran Prešov, Slovakia |
23 |
1 |
 |
41st min. for
kicking out and hooking onto Bukayo Saka from the floor. |
14
|
Cigaņiks, Andrejs |
28
185 days |
12 April 1997 |
LWB |
FC Luzern, Switzerland |
67 |
4 |
 |
31st min. for a wild challenge on Djed Spence on the goalline.
SUSPENDED |
|
|
|
15 |
Zelenkovs, Dmitrijs |
25
152 days |
15 May 2000 |
RM |
Fk RFS |
20 |
0 |
|
8 |
Varslavāns, Renārs,
off 66th min. |
24
52 days |
23 August 2001 |
RDM |
Riga FC |
20 |
1 |
|
17 |
Vapne, Lūkass, off 73rd min. |
22
44 days |
31 August 2003 |
LDM |
Sogndal Fotball, Norway, on loan from FK Metta |
14 |
0 |
|
10 |
Ikaunieks, Jānis,
off 88th min. |
30
240 days |
16 February 1995 |
LM |
Fk
RFS |
70 |
12 |
|
9 |
Gutkovskis, Vladislavs, off 73rd min. |
30
195 days |
2 April 1995 |
CF |
Daejeon Hana Citizen FC, South Korea |
57 |
11 |
Latvia
Substitutes |
|
scoreline:
Latvia 0 England 3 |
|
19 |
Toņiševs, Maksims, on half-time for Jurkovskis |
25
155 days |
12 May 2000 |
RB |
Riga FC |
6 |
0 |
 |
64th own goal scored for England |
|
scoreline:
Latvia 0 England 4 |
|
7 |
Dašķevičs,
Eduards, on 66th min. (65:38) for Varslavāns |
23
94 days |
12 July 2002 |
RDM |
FK Auda |
22 |
0 |
|
20 |
Regža, Marko, on 73rd min.
(72:42) for Gutkovskis |
26
267 days |
20 January 1999 |
CF |
Riga FC |
14 |
0 |
 |
87th min. for a push on Ezri Konsa
on near touchline |
|
22 |
Saveļjevs, Aleksejs, on 73rd min.
(72:53) for Vapne |
26
257 days |
30 January 1999 |
LDM |
FK Liepāja |
33 |
1 |
|
scoreline:
Latvia 0 England 5 |
|
6 |
Grabovskis, Kristaps, on 88th min.
(87:31) for Ikaunieks |
20
122 days |
14 June 2005 |
LM |
Boldklubben af 1893, Denmark |
1 |
0 |
|
result:
Latvia 0 England 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
unused
substitutes: |
3-Vitālijs Jagodinskis, 11-Roberts Savaļnieks, 12-Frenks Orols, 16-Kristers
Penkevics, 21-Deniss Meļņiks, 23-Rihards Matrevics. |
|
team
notes: |
Andrejs Cigaņiks is making his 59th consecutive Latvian match tonight,
equal with Andrejs Rubins (1999-2004). Cigaņiks has not missed a
senior team match since 2020. |
|
Head Coach
Paolo Nicolato was the manager of the Italy U21 side when England defeated
them in Pescara, September 2022 (England included Anthony Gordon).
He was also in charge of the Italy U18's when they visited Fleetwood in
September 2016, a game England won. |
|
|
|
5-4-1 |
Zviedris - Jurkovskis (Toņiševs), Veips, Černomordijs, Balodis, Cigaņiks -
Zelenkovs, Varslavāns (Dašķevičs), Vapne
(Saveljevs), Ikaunieks (Grabovskis) - Gutkovskis (Regža) |
|
Averages (Starting XI): |
Age |
27 years 134
days |
Appearances/Goals |
34.5 |
2.8 |
|
|
|
England Team |
|
|
|
Rank |
FIFA (18
Sept 2025)
4th
EFO ranking
Group Two ELO rating
5th |
Colours |
The Nike 2024 home
uniform -
White shadow pinstriped jerseys
with navy blue v-necked polo-collars/underarm side panel and white/navy blue/maroon
trimmed cuffs, white shorts with navy blue side
panel/hem,
white socks with navy blue trim. |
|
Captain |
Harry Kane |
Head Coach |
Thomas
Tuchel, 52 (29 August 1973 in Krumbach, West Germany), appointed
manager on 8 October
2024, effective 1 January 2025. |
⁶⁷
most goals as captain |
|
82nd of 82, W 52 - D 16 - L 14 - F 187 - A 62. |
|
P eighth of 8, W 7 - D 0 - L 1 - F 22 - A
3. |
|
|
|
|
England
Lineup |
|
|
|
two changes to the previous match (Lewis-Skelly & Kane
for Guéhi & Watkins) |
league position (3 October after six matches) |
|
|
1 |
Pickford, Jordan L. |
31 221 days |
7 March 1994 |
Gk |
Everton FC
(PL 9th) |
80 |
53ᵍᵃ |
|
22nd player to reach the 80-app |
final app
2017-25 |
14
 |
Spence, D.T. Djed-Hotep |
25
66 days |
9 August 2000 |
RB |
Tottenham Hotspur FC
(PL 4th) |
3 |
0 |
|
final app
2025 |
|
2 |
Konsa, Ezri N. |
27
356 days |
23 October 1997 |
RCD |
Aston Villa FC
(PL 16th) |
16 |
1 |
 |
87th min. for a push on Marko Regža
on near touchline |
final app
2024-25 |
5
 |
Stones, John,
off 71st min. |
31 139 days |
28 May 1994 |
LCD |
Manchester City FC
(PL 2nd) |
85 |
3 |
|
final app
2014-25 |
|
3 |
Lewis-Skelly, Myles A. |
19
18 days |
26 September 2006 |
LB |
Arsenal FC
(PL TOP) |
6 |
1 |
|
final app
2025 |
|
21 |
Anderson, Elliot J. |
22
342 days |
6 November 2002 |
RDM |
Nottingham Forest FC
(PL 17th) |
4 |
0 |
|
final app
2025 |
|
4 |
Rice, Declan,
off 60th min. |
26
273 days |
14 January 1999 |
LDM |
Arsenal FC
(PL TOP) |
70 |
6 |
|
33rd player (and
quickest) to reach the 70-app |
final app
2019-25 |
7
 |
Saka, Bukayo A.T.,
off 60th min. |
24
39 days |
5 September 2001 |
RAM |
Arsenal FC
(PL TOP) |
46 |
13 |
|
final app
2020-25 |
|
15 |
Rogers, Morgan E.,
off 60th min. |
23
80 days |
26 July 2002 |
CAM |
Aston Villa FC
(PL 16th) |
10 |
1 |
|
final app
2024-25 |
17
 |
Gordon, Anthony M.,
off 71st min. |
24 232 days |
24 February 2001 |
LAM |
Newcastle United FC
(PL 15th) |
16 |
2 |
|
final app
2024-25 |
9
  |
Kane, Harry E. |
32 78 days |
28 July 1993 |
CF |
FC Bayern München, Germany
(BL TOP) |
110 |
76 ²⁴ |
 |
the 114th
penalty-kick scored
(152)
the 374th
(241st post-war)
brace scored |
final app
2017-25 |
England
Substitutes |
|
scoreline:
Latvia 0 England 4 |
|
8 |
Henderson, Jordan B.,
on 60th min.
(59:01)
for Rice |
35
119 days |
17 June 1990 |
RDM |
Brentford
FC
(PL 13th) |
87 |
56 |
3 |
|
31 |
|
final app
2011-25 |
|
10 |
Eze, Eberechi O.,
on 60th min.
(59:05)
for Rogers |
27 107 days |
29 June 1998 |
AM |
Arsenal FC
(PL TOP) |
14 |
3 |
2 |
 |
the 113th goal by a substitute |
11 |
|
final app
2023-25 |
20
 |
Bowen, Jarrod,
on 60th min.
(59:22)
for Saka |
28
298 days |
20 December 1996 |
RAM |
West Ham United FC
(PL 19th) |
19 |
6 |
1 |
|
13 |
|
final app
2022-25 |
|
11 |
Rashford, Marcus,
on 71st min.
(70:17) for Gordon |
27 348 days |
31 October 1997 |
LAM |
FC Barcelona
(LL TOP), on loan
from
Manchester United FC |
66 |
29 |
18 |
|
37 |
|
final app
2016-25 |
|
12 |
Burn, Daniel J.,
on 71st min.
(70:22) for Stones |
33 158 days |
9 May 1992 |
LCD |
Newcastle United FC
(PL 15th) |
4 |
3 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
final app
2025 |
|
result:
Latvia 0 England 5 |
|
unused
substitutes: |
6-Marc Guéhi, 13-Dean Henderson,
16-Morgan Gibbs-White,
18-Ruben
Loftus-Cheek, 22-James Trafford,
23-Nico O'Reilly. |
|
manager notes: |
Tuchel is the first England manager to win his first six competitive games
and keep clean sheets in each. |
|
goalscoring notes: |
Harry Kane has scored
more than one goal in a match for the thirteenth time, a new record, overtaking Nat Lofthouse's twelve. It is Kane's eighteenth goal
for England whilst playing for Bayern Munich, breaking the record for
goals scored at a foreign club previously held by Gary Lineker, who
had scored seventeen whilst at Barcelona. Ebere Eze
is the thirtieth
Arsenal FC player to score for England. The fifth team to reach
the milestone. |
|
penalty kick notes: |
Harry Kane's record extending penalty-kick is the eleventh successful
conversion since March 2023. It is the fourth time England have scored
eleven successful kicks in a row, 1998-2003, 2011-15 and 2016-19. They
have never scored twelve kicks in a row. |
|
records: |
Jordan Pickford
keeps his 41st clean sheet, of which this is his ninth consecutive,
extending his own record. He has
also 810 minutes since he last conceded a goal, another new record (84
minutes more than his own record set in 2020-21). England have
gone 723 minutes since they last conceded a competitive goal, and are
unbeaten in their last 37 WCP
(W 29 D 8) since a 1-0 loss at
Ukraine in October 2009.
England's
450th clean sheet overall. Best start to a season since
2017-18, when they also won their opening four matches
(F 8 - A 1). They also won the first four of the 2015-16 season
without conceding (F 13). In both
cases, the records fell on the fifth match.
Ninetieth WCP victory in 128 matches.
Fortieth at an away venue. 75th victory in
October,
out of 129 matches played. |
|
|
|
4-2-3-1 |
Pickford - Spence, Konsa, Stones (Burn), Lewis-Skelly - Anderson, Rice
(Henderson)
-
Saka (Bowen), Rogers (Eze), Gordon
(Rashford) - Kane |
|
Averages (Starting XI): |
Age |
27 years 252
days |
Appearances/Goals |
40.6 |
9.1 |
|
|
|
|
Match Report
by Mike Payne |
|
Another super efficient performance by England as they made easy work of disposing of the challenge from Latvia and at the end of the match qualification for the finals in America was guaranteed. The game began, predictably, with Latvia having ten men behind the ball and England probing with their ten men trying to find gaps. Early on England's crosses were poor and it was easy for the big defenders to clear the danger. England had almost all the possession as they probed and stretched the defenders in the opening 15 minutes. Anthony Gordon was looking the main threat down the left and on 16 minutes he cut inside but his final shot was off target.
England needed patience as the Latvians were playing a determined game. Gordon continues as the main danger to the home side who struggled with his pace and trickery. England's crossing was too low at times making it easy for the defenders to clear. But then, on 26 minutes the inevitable breakthrough came. John Stones, deep in his own half, spotted a run from Gordon and sent a long pass over the top for him to run onto. The Latvians were caught cold and Gordon cut inside and fired a fine shot into the far corner for his second England goal and an excellent one too. Over the next five or six minutes play was scrappy from England as Latvia tried in vain to hit back. Andrejs Cigaņiks received a yellow card for a late challenge and after that incident England settled down again. On 37 minutes another fine run and cross from Gordon was just begging to be touched home but Harry Kane was blocked off by a defender and the ball was cleared. The pressure was building again, and it seemed only a matter of time before England would add to their lead. In fact, before the break they stretched the lead well out of Latvia's reach.
If the home side had reached the break just one goal down then maybe, just maybe. But that wasn't to be and on 44 minutes the ball bounced off Bukayo Saka into Kane's path and the lethal striker wasted no time in drilling a fierce left-foot shot wide of the keeper. Goal number 75 for his country and he almost scored again straight after when a cross from Declan Rice was headed at goal by Kane, but this time goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris stretched a right hand out to save the day. A curious decision by the referee shortly afterwards, more late than anything, meant a check on VAR looking at a possible penalty. In the melee following another cross, It was found that Kane had been pushed over by Atonijs Černomordijs, It resulted in a penalty for England and with the rain bucketing down Kane was not going to give up this gift and he sent the keeper the wrong way to score the third goal.
Unlike the Welsh game previously, England were determined to keep the pressure on Latvia. Early England attacks were cleared and the next clear chance came at the other end. On 50 minutes
Vladisslavs Gutkovskis, ran clear of the England defence and bore down on goal. However, a brilliant piece of defending by Ezri Konsa, recovering quickly and tackling cleanly saved the day for Jordan Pickford's clean sheet. But give Gutkovskis his due, he kept plugging away and only a fine save by the England keeper minutes later prevented a goal for Latvia.
There was a strange period in the game for a while as all 10 England players seemed to want to score, and as a result of that Latvia broke dangerously on several occasions as gaps appeared. Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson and Jerod Bowen then came on as substitutes and England were coasting at this stage, although it was nip and tuck for a while. But then, on 58 minutes Djed Spence is clear on the right and puts over a dangerous cross. The goalkeeper gets a touch but the ball unluckily strikes substitute Maksims Toņiševs on the shin and creeps agonizingly slowly over the line for an own goal. Rotten luck for the youngster.
Several more chance are created by England as the wind goes out of the Latvian's sails with Bowen close with another good effort whilst Marcus Rashford and Gordon combine to almost score again. On 75 minutes Kane came close to a hat-trick but the keeper again made a good save. However, the scoring had not ended. Eze is then brought down on the angle of the penalty area and Bowen curled in a cross that cleared everyone. Latvia never gave up and play really was end to end in the last quarter. But England were to have the final word and on 86 minutes the pressure paid off again. Bowen won the ball in midfield and found Eze who sprinted in from the left an hit a fine shot wide of the keeper. Kane almost added to his personal tally but there was no further scoring.
The job was done and England now look forward to a trip to the States. Thomas Tuchal must be delighted by the determination and non-stop effort shown by his players. I applaud Latvia though, who never gave up trying and perhaps were a little unlucky not to score as England pushed up so far. Five more goals and another conclusive win from the Lionhearts. A special word for Elliot Anderson who has done exceptionally well since coming into the side, taking his chance with both hands, and feet.
|
|
Source Notes |
TheFA.com
BBC Sport
Latvia FA |
|
UEFA.com Mike Payne - football historian and contributor |
|
|
cg |