England vs Latvia LIVE: Team news and updates as Thomas Tuchel could make changes for World Cup qualifier

Latvia won their most recent competitive away match 1-0 vs Andorra.

They were winless in eight previously (two draws, six defeats).

However, they haven’t won back-to-back away games in major tournament qualifiers since October 2009 against Luxembourg and Israel.

“I just give my analysis of the team,” Tuchel blankly stated. “Sometimes I am surprised with what people try to make out of it, that Marcus and Phil should be offended with what I said.”

Declan Rice echoed his manager, saying he would rather have that “kick up the arse”. “This is top-level international football,” the midfielder added.

In a statement released on Sunday, England confirmed: “Anthony Gordon has withdrawn from Three Lions camp having sustained an injury during Friday night’s 2-0 win over Albania. The forward has returned to Newcastle United for further assessment.”

England are unbeaten in their last 38 qualifying matches for major tournaments at home with 34 wins and four draws across Euro and World Cup qualifiers.

That’s twice as long as their next best run without defeat (two 19 game runs in April 1983 and October 1996).

England have won their last four competitive matches, they last won five in a row in June 2021.

Can they make it five from five?

There was a mere three days the squad had together before the match and only a few occasions Albania were willing to come out of their area, let alone their half.

“We believe fully in both wingers, in the potentials,” Thomas Tuchel told talkSPORT. “That’s why we called them up.

“I fully understand that not everyone can play all the time on the very highest level and impact matches in the way we wanted.

“For Phil, it’s a difficult season in the club. He comes from several weeks where he does not find the rhythm that he found last season, things are not so easy for him, so we called him up to show him our support and our love and our commitment.

“Marcus is the opposite. He found his found his rhythm and since January, in a new club, new environment was very impressive and that has not changed because of 60 or 70 minutes that were difficult against Albania. Not at all.”

England defeated Albania in their first 2026 World Cup qualifier last Friday.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane got the goals but can the Three Lions back up that win with another victory at Wembley tonight?

Latvia have lost their last 13 international matches against sides who started that match within the top 10 of the Fifa Rankings by an aggregate score of 38-1.

Their sole win against such opposition came against Turkiye – ranked 8th – in November 2003 in a European Championship qualifier.

Thomas Tuchel promises to be a different manager than Gareth Southgate with his honest nature and assessment of players, regardless of how poorly they perform.

“He’s very straight-talking, he knows what he wants and knows what he wants from his team,” Harry Kane added.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or how many games you played, he’ll tell you the same as he will tell one of the young players and that’s a good standard to set.

“I think what he’s saying is the next step is to go into detail and have uncomfortable conversations with each other on the pitch and off the pitch when things aren’t quite going your way.

“Not just be a friend to your team-mates but dig your teammate out and push them on in a different way. I think it’s that next step.”