James and Eze open England accounts in win over Latvia

LONDON - England beat Latvia 3-0 as Reece James and Eberechi Eze both scored their first senior international goals to help make it two wins out of two for Thomas Tuchels side in the World Cup qualifying campaign on March 24.

Chelsea right back James, making his first England start since 2022, curled in a sublime free kick to break the deadlock in the 38th minute of the Group K clash at Wembley.

As against Albania on March 21, England laboured at times to break down a massed defence but captain Harry Kane doubled the lead in the 68th with a tap-in from Declan Rices pass.

Eze then came off the bench for an impressive cameo performance and the winger was rewarded when his mazy run and deflected shot made it 3-0 in the 76th minute.

Favourites England top the group on six points with Albania, who beat Andorra 3-0 in March 24s other fixture, and Latvia on three. Only the group winners qualify automatically for next years finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Tuchel was candid in his analysis of Englands display against Albania in his first game on March 21 and the German made four changes for the visit of 140th-ranked Latvia, including his former Chelsea right back James replacing Kyle Walker.

The German cut a frustrated figure at times in a first half in which England predictably dominated, had 17 goal attempts and countless wayward crosses but lacked sparkle.

A sure sign of a bored Wembley crowd is for paper aeroplanes to start descending from the stands and a few had already made it onto the pitch when James finally broke through.

After sizing up a free kick from a central position outside the penalty area, James curled a stunning right-foot shot inside the post