Following Latvia’s 3-0 defeat to England at Wembley, the British media, players, and manager Thomas Tuchel highlighted several positives about the Latvian team’s performance. Despite being ranked 140th in the world, as The Times pointed out, Latvia proved a more resilient opponent than expected.
ITV
England captain Harry Kane, during an ITV interview, acknowledged Latvia’s disciplined defensive structure, stating: “It was a tough game, they had 11 behind the ball. We had to be patient and had to use our wingers.” His comments reflected the difficulty England faced in breaking down Latvia’s deep-lying defense.
New England manager Thomas Tuchel, formerly of Bayern Munich and Chelsea, also admitted that Latvia posed challenges. He noted: “It was not an easy match, we had to unlock it. We created a lot of chances from set-pieces. But in the second half, England lacked movement and the game slowed down. We brought on substitute Eberechi Eze to try to get more acceleration in the final third. England also were a bit lucky with Bellingham not getting a red card.”
The Times
The Times provided a balanced perspective on Latvia’s performance, stating: “Playing Latvia, who are not Brazil, was not supposed to feel like this. Yes, Latvia were organised. But obdurate. A little better than their FIFA ranking of 140th suggests.” The report acknowledged Latvia’s disciplined 5-4-1 formation, which proved difficult for England to break down.
The Daily Mail
The Daily Mail was less forgiving towards England, calling their performance “dull and turgid,” while noting that Tuchel’s side was fortunate not to have conceded early on due to Latvia’s attacking attempts. The newspaper also ranked Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham a low six out of ten, citing his luck in avoiding a red card.
The Sun
Meanwhile, The Sun ran the headline: ‘Reece James spares Tuchel’s blushes as Three Lions labour to win over minnows ranked 140th in world’. The article emphasized how England struggled for much of the game, suggesting that Latvia’s compact defense frustrated the hosts.
The Guardian
The Guardian’s report reflected on the familiar challenge England faces against lower-ranked, defensively solid opponents, stating: “It was a game that many of those present had watched on loop throughout their lives: England in a Wembley qualifier against compact, 11‑men‑behind-the-ball minnows.” The piece acknowledged the difficulty in analyzing such matches beyond acknowledging Latvia’s defensive determination.
The BBC
Finally, BBC Sport praised Latvia’s defensive resilience, noting: “England struggled to add to the scoreline in the face of Latvia’s stubborn resistance. As Latvia finally ran out of steam and resistance, substitute Eberechi Eze scored his first England goal… The fact that it did for so long was not just a testimony to their determination.”
Despite the defeat, Latvia’s national team received recognition from British media and football professionals for their defensive organization, resilience, and disciplined performance. While England ultimately secured a comfortable scoreline, the match demonstrated that Latvia was not an easy opponent, proving themselves to be a better side than their FIFA ranking suggests. Only time will tell for this current national team.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/24/england-latvia-world-cup-qualifying-match-report
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14532589/England-3-0-Latvia-PLAYER-RATINGS.html
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c9wp2g2qnr1t
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/34026693/england-latvia-james-free-kick-spares-tuchel-blushes/
