Latvia v England - Tues 14 Oct '25, 19:45 | World Cup Qualifier

[mrbelfry]

Good performance. Delivery from wide areas could have been a lot better and some of the passing in the first half was a little frustrating so lots of room for improvement which is a good sign after an easy win.

Pick of the players for me was Anderson who always had space and kept the ball moving. He was a bullied a couple of times in the second half most notably for the chance that Konsa made the good tackle on but he looked assured and comfortable.

 

[deano ou812]

Hard to judge playing 3rd tier teams ( but that’s not England’s fault).. still reckon all being well player wise they’ll get through their group come up against France,Spain even Norway and they’ll be coming back home ..

 

[meltonblue]

Not watched England for a while so I put the game on the TV in the background while I was on a phonecall. Quite like England's huddle. Based on the 30mins or so I watched, they seem to play like a team. Much more so than when Bellingham plays.

I like that Tuchel has pretty openly called that out too.

 

[dadnlad]

god st Arry is full of shit straight into tv work when finished

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

I know I should know this but why are some UEFA WC Qual groups 5 teams and some 4?

There are 16 WC slots to fill but four of those come from the playoffs (of the 12 runners up plus 4 who qualify from the Nations League). 6x4 and 6x5 makes it easy to get the 12 automatic (group winners) and 12 runners up.

In the past it’s had weird stuff like two teams qualifying from some groups and only 1 from smaller groups or nine groups but only the best 8 runners up going to knockouts.

 

[Manc in London]

I like that Tuchel has pretty openly called that out too.

About Bellingham? I have no idea as I now tend to usually ignore England news and the games.

 

[City Hobgoblin]

Some suggestion that Bellingham's father is like a nightmare angry pushy parent, getting on everyone's wick with his interference and unsolicited opinions.

 

[meltonblue]

About Bellingham? I have no idea as I now tend to usually ignore England news and the games.

Yes, he’s made a few barbed comments about him and his interactions with team mates.

 

[cleavers]

Yes, he’s made a few barbed comments about him and his interactions with team mates.

Good, he might be a good footballer, but he's an obnoxious "all about me" twat otherwise.

 

[meltonblue]

Good, he might be a good footballer, but he's an obnoxious "all about me" twat otherwise.

Yup and very good for Tuchel to be saying it, plenty of international coaches in particular wouldn’t.

He’s doing a very good job so far.

 

[citydad]

Just on bus back into Riga, great trip and top result. Just a shame Nico didn’t get any minutes.
Off to a bar to dry out gone midnight here and they locked us in for 20 minutes.

 

[supercity88]

He's too good to not try and figure out a place for him

Definitely. Tuchel made the right call leaving out a couple this time around. He will have hoped to lite a fire in those that missed out to make them work for their spot, whilst ensuring others get more time with the squad so they don't think their chance is gone either.

If it's a 23 man squad again, it's a tough job he has and versatility might win the day. Does Foden tick that box - probably not based on what he has shown in an England shirt (whether his fault or not).

 

[cleavers]

Just a shame Nico didn’t get any minutes.

I'd rather he was fit for the weekend.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

Definitely. Tuchel made the right call leaving out a couple this time around. He will have hoped to lite a fire in those that missed out to make them work for their spot, whilst ensuring others get more time with the squad so they don't think their chance is gone either.

If it's a 23 man squad again, it's a tough job he has and versatility might win the day. Does Foden tick that box - probably not based on what he has shown in an England shirt (whether his fault or not).

If rashford gets in any squad in front of Phil somethings wrong.
Foden has more talent in his left bollock than that clown rashford has ever seen

 

[Macca77macca]

There are 16 WC slots to fill but four of those come from the playoffs (of the 12 runners up plus 4 who qualify from the Nations League). 6x4 and 6x5 makes it easy to get the 12 automatic (group winners) and 12 runners up.

In the past it’s had weird stuff like two teams qualifying from some groups and only 1 from smaller groups or nine groups but only the best 8 runners up going to knockouts.

Yes but…it means some teams like England have to play more games? Than say Ireland? That doesn’t seem right .. what am I missing

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Yes but…it means some teams like England have to play more games? Than say Ireland? That doesn’t seem right .. what am I missing

Fewer friendlies probably works better.

 

[meltonblue]

If rashford gets in any squad in front of Phil somethings wrong.
Foden has more talent in his left bollock than that clown rashford has ever seen

Yes but that might be with the player, as much as we don’t want to say it. All about the team and so far, Phils not really showed it yet for England. Neither has Bellingham for me and yet they’re two of the most talented English players about. There’s been plenty of talents that haven’t been the same for international teams, likewise some that shine far more in that environment than they do at club level.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

It helps if your team mates pass to you though. The trouble is Phil is on a different planet to the rest of the mediocrity in that England squad.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Waiting for yet another bore fest

5-0 ok for you ?

 

[BlueHammer85]

Still got to be done, and Serbia aren’t a pub team

Win 10-0 and it’s only because they’re a pub team

Win 2-0 - ‘’fucking shite, we aren’t going to win anything at a major

Can’t really win either way with a moaning nation that gets disappointed when we win.