England vs Latvia LIVE: Team news and updates as Morgan Rogers may start with Thomas Tuchel set to make changes – UK Times

This is England’s first ever meeting with Latvia, who are ranked 140th in the world.

They also got their Group K campaign off to a winning start as they edged past minnows Andorra 1-0 but they are not expected to be in contention to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

Defender Daniels Balodis is perhaps the most recognisable name in their squad, at least north of the border, as he plays for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.

England are unbeaten in their last 32 World Cup qualifiers, which is the longest run of any European nation and it would be a big surprise if that run ended against the Baltic nation.

It may only be the second of eight qualifying games but victory would put England in a dominant position in Group K.

Serbia are England’s main threat but they are in Nations League action during this international window so Tuchel’s side can get a big head start.

Two wins from two would put England in a strong position going into June’s qualifier against Andorra before September’s crunch game in Belgrade.

Tuchel is ready to rotate against Latvia as the new England boss looks to juggle tired legs and make the most of his limited opportunities with the players.

The German could make a host of changes across the pitch as he explores combinations and options.

The attacking areas are likely to be rotated, with Foden and Marcus Rashford’s place in danger after under-whelming performances against Albania, with Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Rogers among those waiting for their chance.

Phil Foden came under the spotlight for his performance against Albania as he was ineffective out on the right.

Pundit Roy Keane suggested Foden will be lucky to keep the shirt as the 24-year-old continually struggles to find the level he reaches with club Manchester City at international level.

Tuchel wants Foden to be more direct, saying: “We will encourage him to do what he does best – to go at defenders, to go into dribbles.

“We played him from the from the right wing. I think both of our wingers who started were not as impactful as they normally can be, as they are normally in club football.”

England won their first match under Thomas Tuchel when they beat Albania in comfortable but unspectacular style on Friday and Tuchel was left wanting more.

He promised a high-octane Premier League style but there were familiar difficulties in breaking down a team with 11 men behind the ball.

The German will expect his side to move the ball quicker and be more aggressive as they begin to get used to his demands.

He said: “We will understand better now, I will understand the players better, so where do they feel confident? Where do we struggle? Why is it for us hard to find more runs and to find more aggressive movements into the very last third?”

Thomas Tuchel will look to build on his first match in charge as England face Latvia in their second World Cup 2026 qualifier.

The Three Lions cruised to a 2-0 win over Albania on Friday in Tuchel’s first outing as England boss, with goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane propelling the German to a victorious start.

They now face Latvia in what is a top of the table clash in Group K, after the visitors beat Andorra 1-0 in the qualifying opener.

England go into the contest as heavy favourites and will be eager to make it a straightforward assignment under the Wembley lights.

Here’s everything you need to know:

The Arsenal full-back, who only broke into Mikel Arteta’s first team this season, converted Jude Bellingham’s excellent pass and Tuchel as impressed with his performance and impact.

Latvia have no new injury concerns, with any changes during the Andorra win appearing purely tactical.

Deniss Melinks was taken off at half-time for the more attacking Dario Sits, who scored the winner last week.

Sits may have proved his case to start against England, but expect a well-rested Melinks to keep his place in the starting XI, with defensive resilience sure to be of paramount importance for the visitors.

Predicted Latvia XI: Zviedris; Jurkovskis, Balodis, Cernomordijs; Savalnieks, Melniks, Savaljevs, Ciganiks; Zelenkovs, Ikaunieks; Sits

Anthony Gordan has withdrawn from the squad after limping off with a hip injury towards the end of England’s 2-0 win over Albania last Friday.

Morgan Gibbs-White could be in line to step in for Gordan, who didn’t feature in Tuchel’s matchday squad on Friday.

Expect wholesale changes to Tuchel’s starting XI as he works out his favoured team, which could see the likes of James Trafford, Reece James, Jordan Henderson and Jarrod Bowen feature.

Predicted England XI: Trafford; James, Colwill, Guehi, Livramento; Rice, Henderson; Bowen, Bellingham, Rodgers; Kane

A first game that was encouraging rather than electrifying, with most of the new excitement offered by Myles Lewis-Skelly rather than any sense of a new era. Thomas Tuchel’s week culminated in the teenager’s night, as he became England football team’s youngest ever debutant goalscorer in this professional 2-0 win over Albania.

You wouldn’t have guessed Lewis-Skelly was a mere 18 years and 176 days – or at least you wouldn’t if you hadn’t seen Arsenal this season – with the way he confidently drove up the line.