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In a commanding performance in Riga, England thrashed Latvia 5–0, with Harry Kane grabbing a brace to fire his country into the 2026 World Cup with two qualifying matches to spare.
With tonight’s two goals, Kane has now amassed 21 goals this season across club and country. His international total now sits at 76 goals in 110 caps.
Match Recap: England in Complete Control
First Half Domination
- Anthony Gordon opened the scoring with a sharp finish after linking play on England’s counter.
- Kane added two goals before half-time: a well-placed strike from outside the box, then a penalty he won himself.
- The penalty was awarded after a shirt pull inside the box and confirmed via VAR.
Second Half & Further Goals
- An unfortunate own goal by Maksims Tonisevs came after a Djed Spence cross was poorly dealt with by the Latvian defense.
- Substitute Eberechi Eze wrapped up the scoring late on with a composed strike after picking up the play.
Defensively, England were impenetrable, this was their sixth clean sheet in six qualifiers, having conceded zero goals in the campaign so far.
Records Broken & Milestones Reached
Kane’s brace not only delivered a crucial win, but also pushed him into rarefied record-breaking territory:
- Most multi-goal matches for England: Kane now holds the record, having scored 2+ goals in 13 different England matches.
- Highest England goal total while playing abroad: He overtook Gary Lineker’s benchmark by scoring 18 goals for England while at a foreign club (Bayern Munich).
- He now leads England’s all-time scoring chart with 76 goals.
Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, described Kane as “on top of the list” with respect to the strikers he’s ever coached, lauding both his mental and physical shape.
Reactions & Context
Kane on His Form
Asked if he’s in the best shape of his career, Kane replied, “I’d say so. The numbers are there … physically I’m in a good place.” He also praised the England travelling support as “fantastic” through the night.
Gordon on the Night
Anthony Gordon, whose opening goal set the tone, reflected on the team’s chemistry:
“It was top from start to finish … we haven’t conceded a goal … everyone’s giving everything for each other.”
Tuchel’s Take
Tuchel was pleased with the team’s dominance and the seamlessness of qualification, noting the balance between attack and defense in his squad’s setup.
What It Means Going Forward
- England become the first European side to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
- They finish the group with a perfect record: six wins, six clean sheets, 18 goals scored, none conceded.
- With qualification secured early, England can now plan for tactical experiments, rotation, and squad fine-tuning ahead of the tournament.
- The spotlight will continue to shine on Kane, whose ongoing form makes him a serious contender for individual honors and a key figure in England’s ambitions.
Harry Kane proved once again why he remains the beating heart of England’s attack scoring twice in a clinching 5–0 victory that stamped the Three Lions’ ticket to the 2026 World Cup. As preparations turn toward the finals, England can move forward with confidence buoyed by a skipper in absolute form.
