Squad Ratings: The Three Lions Qualify for the Upcoming Tournament

England earned their place at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing triumph over the Baltic side on Tuesday evening.

First Eleven Performance

  • Jordan Pickford – Pulled off a few of excellent stops in the latter period to extend his impressive clean sheet streak. It's now nine consecutive in a row. 6.5
  • The defender – Has taken to international football with ease. Sterner tests await, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
  • John Stones – Two matches in a short span will do the City defender a world of good. Still one of the automatic picks on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
  • Aston Villa's defender – Selected ahead of Marc Guehi and was flawless. Executed an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the second half to boot. 7
  • The young defender – Appeared a little not at his best at times, understandable given his limited game time at Arsenal. An intriguing few months ahead. 6
  • Elliott Anderson – Looks essential in this England team at the moment. Seems made for this level and has developed an excellent partnership with Rice. 7
  • The midfielder – Enjoying his number eight role. The backbone of England's midfield is showing his offensive abilities now. Emerging as a genuine all-round midfielder. 7
  • The forward – Not as impactful as he has been in England's successes over Serbia and Wales. We should find out next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
  • The winger – Provided an setup to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be crucial to England's chances next summer. 7.5
  • The captain – At his peak. Took his total for the season to 20 strikes. Has hit the back of the net 76 goals for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
  • Anthony Gordon – Precise finish to get the ball rolling for England here in the Latvian capital. Has done a good job during this fixture period. 7.5

The Bench Players

  • Jordan Henderson (for Rice 60) – Maintained the tempo in midfield. 6
  • Crystal Palace's star (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a threat. 7
  • The winger (for Saka 60) – Faces competition on his hands to make the squad when all are available. 6
  • Newcastle's full-back (for Stones 71) – As you'd expect, managed everything with his height. 6
  • The forward (for Gordon 71) – A quick burst down the left was noticeable. 6

With a World Cup spot confirmed, the squad can now turn their attention for next summer with high hopes.

Marc Simmons
Marc Simmons

Tech journalist and analyst with a passion for uncovering emerging trends and their impact on society.