England extends Tuchel's winning start

LONDON — England extended Thomas Tuchel's 100 percent start to his reign, as Reece James' first international goal inspired a 3-0 win against Latvia in Monday's World Cup qualifier.

Tuchel's side once again labored to break down defensive opposition for long periods at Wembley.

But, three days after struggling to beat Albania 2-0 in Tuchel's first game in charge, England eventually mustered enough composure and quality to kill off 140th-ranked Latvia.

James broke the deadlock with a superb freekick late in the first half, as the Chelsea right-back made an impressive first England start since September 2022.

Hamstring injuries had sidelined James for most of last season, as well as several months in the current campaign.

But, James was a key figure when Tuchel's Chelsea won the 2021 Champions League, and the 25-year-old could emerge as a significant weapon if he can stay fit.

"I know Reecey, and the quality the boy has is amazing," Tuchel told broadcaster ITV. "He has every right to be proud and happy with his performance. He is in excellent shape. He looks sharp, in shape and there can be no doubt about his quality.

"It was not an easy match. We saw a lot of good things, created good chances. We needed a freekick to unlock it. I'm happy with the attitude, energy and desire. We will get there."

England captain Harry Kane put the result beyond doubt in the second half with his 71st international goal, before Eberechi Eze came off the bench to bag his maiden goal for the Three Lions.

Asked for his impressions of his first camp, Tuchel praised his squad for making his life easy.

"Very happy, because of the players mainly," Tuchel, the first England permanent manager to win his first two games in charge since Fabio Capello in 2008, said.

"They reminded me instantly why I was excited about the job. Top characters, a very good group. I think we had some excellent days on the pitch, but also off the pitch.

"Good energy and very positive atmosphere."

Six points was the minimum requirement for England's opening two games, and while the opposition was not of the highest quality, Tuchel said they were useful tests.

"I think we need exactly these kinds of matches, the tension of World Cup qualifiers, and also the tension that not everything falls into place from the first minute," he said.

"There's still room to improve, but overall, we have two wins, two clean sheets. We did not allow anything, any good chances in two matches. So there are a lot of positives."

Despite its inconsistent start to the Tuchel era, the paucity of its opponents in a weak Group K means England is already well on the way to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The German now has 75 days to prepare for England's next qualifier in Andorra on June 7.

Tuchel has yet to deliver on his desire to produce a team that plays with more courage than the "afraid" group that reached the Euro 2024 final under his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

But, Tuchel has already shown he isn't concerned about ruffling the feathers of his superstars.

He kept the players guessing over his lineup until just a few hours before kick-off, with England's starting eleven lacking a single player from Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool for the first time since 1992.

City forward Phil Foden was replaced by Jarrod Bowen after his lackluster display against Albania, while Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers made his first England start instead of Liverpool's Curtis Jones.

James came in for Kyle Walker and Marc Guehi replaced Dan Burn at center-back.

Tuchel handed another chance to Marcus Rashford, who he brought back into the England squad and started against Albania. The forward, on loan from Manchester United to Aston Villa, was disappointing against Albania, but had more joy against Latvia, especially in the first half.

"Not everything fell into place, but the most important thing was that he showed his hunger and desire, and confidence in his abilities," Tuchel said.

The German now has a frustrating wait until June for his next England camp, but he will head off having made a favorable impression with his players.

"Thomas Tuchel is fantastic, he has settled in straight away. He is a pleasure to work for, he has brought the passion," captain Kane said of his former Bayern boss.

Agencies