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England Qualify for the 2026 World Cup! But what is next for Thomas Tuchel?
13 Plays3 days ago
England are heading to the 2026 World Cup after a dominant 5–0 win over Latvia. We discuss Tuchel’s tactics, Gordon’s performance, and what’s next for the Three Lions — plus a quick round-up of global qualifying surprises.
❓ - Has Anthony Gordon cemented his place as England's left winger?
❓ - Should Jordan Henderson be in the squad over Adam Wharton?
❓ - Can Harry Kane make it a century of goals for England?
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Transcript
England Qualifies for 2026 World Cup
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it comes as a shock to absolutely nobody that England have officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Daily Newcastle podcast after England have beaten Latvia 5-0 in Riga to cement their place at next year's World Cup. And to be fair, we probably shouldn't be taking that for granted, considering how solid England have been in this campaign. Zero goals conceded with two games to play, and they've officially qualified without any difficulty.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's more than what most can say. I'm not talking about anyone in particular, of course.
Surprises in World Cup Qualifiers
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Qualifying from that expanded format for the World Cup should be easy, yet Sweden have home almost guaranteed to fail.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Italy will have to win a playoff and there have been some really shocking results in the UEFA qualifying bracket. Faroe Islands beating the Czech Republic just as one there.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But around the world there's been some more shocks. In Asia Uzbekistan and Jordan have already qualified. Saudi Arabia have still got to play a playoff group in their fourth round. So maybe they won't qualify, although you'd have to imagine they would.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then in Africa, Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup, the second smallest country to ever do so after Ireland. Meanwhile, two of DR Congo, Nigeria and Cameroon are going to miss out.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is a very, very shocking one. And it might be another one where Wissa, or Johan Wissa, should I say, doesn't get to play in a major tournament. Hopefully that isn't the case.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But with AFCON, who knows what's going to happen there. And then World Cup, it's not looking great for the Democratic Republic of Congo. um But winning these simple games for some,
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It ain't so simple.
England vs Latvia Match Highlights
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But back to England, who have found it so, so simple in this particular qualifying campaign. They played the strongest XI they possibly could against Latvia and that told pretty much everyone we're here to make a statement.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Send the players back their clubs on a huge high and when we come back in November, everyone's happy. ah For Newcastle United, Anthony Gordon was the only starter for England. Dan Burns started on the bench.
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Gordon's place before the game was the one that everyone was talking about. Would Marcus Rashford come in? Could Jack Realish still stake a claim? And Gordon probably put in the performance that everybody wanted him to. Because he isn't a guaranteed starter.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He isn't even guaranteed in the squad next summer. But a brilliant performance against Latvia. It's great starting point for the England man. Um... I haven't been as convinced of them for Newcastle, if I'm completely honest.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But for England, he's looked fantastic. And if Thomas Tuchel and Eddie Howe are happy, then who am I to complain? um Going into the game, just to start off, actually, the Latvian national anthem is ah pretty beautiful, isn't it? But it's...
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
proper long in it it was just it felt like it was going on and on and on and it's a bit of a weird contrast being serenaded with that for about two three minutes i would like that for the whole game but then going straight into craig david's just eat advert itv wasn't really something that i was looking forward to unforgivable And what was nearly unforgivable was England not putting the ball on the back of the net in the first 25 minutes. um Latvia started five at the back for England. Kane came in for Watkins.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Myles Lewis-Skelly came in for Marguerite. So, then moving from right-back to centre-back. um Contrasting performances from the two players that came in.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lewis Skelly was arguably England's worst player. um You could have put him in a Latvia shirt and I think he would have looked about the same quality today. Not his best game, but he isn't getting game time for Arsenal, so what do you expect?
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Harry Kane got a brace. Could have had a hat-trick, but just wasn't clinical enough on the day. ah It took 30 seconds for England to have the ball in the back of the net. Saka ran beyond the defence, squared it to Kane to score, but when the initial pass is made, Saka's already halfway through. He's running his offside.
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That set the tempo, though. um And there certainly wasn't going to be any talking about the crowd being quiet. Took about two minutes for Yeah.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
are we loud enough for you and we sing when we want and some that i'm not really going to repeat on camera um and after two minutes it's probably what tom's toohaw wanted but i don't think there's any bit ever been any um criticism of england's always support It's always the home support. And it's the same with Newcastle United, really.
00:05:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So we understand that pretty well. and But back to Harry Kane, he had the first good chance of the game. Quick one-two with Anthony Gordon, who first half was excellent. Kane on the volley, probably should have scored, but it kind of just set the tempo for the game.
Key Moments: England vs Latvia
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Gordon who actually and broke the deadlock, 25th minute. Lewis Skelly gives the ball away on the halfway line. A bit further up, actually. um And it's actually a moment of genius from the young man because it's the first time Latvia pushed the line higher.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Konza wins it back. Or I say the Latvian attacker passes it against him. It ends up at the feet of John Stones, who we know can ping a ball, pings one over the top of the defence, finds Gordon. He beats two or three players and curls it into the far right corner.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is the Anthony Gordon we love to see. And to be honest, before that, His crossing was quite poor, but his dribbling was fantastic. We've seen that a lot with Gordon, really, in the past.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was England's best player by a country mile in that first half. ah Latvia then started to get into the game a little bit for about two minutes. um But they got him behind twice. It was Lewis Skelly.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um who they got in behind. But again, mentioned England's poor crossing there. Latvia's was just as poor. They had couple of penalty shouts in the game, but none of them were really any concrete shouts.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just pretty much ball bounces up, hits the arm. And it's even slightly, very quickly. The defender can't really do anything about it. um ing England weren't great in the final third.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both dominated the game. Did make it 2-0 before half-time. And it comes from a Latvia mistake caused by England's press, if we're trying to be plus positive.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
A great press, really. It leads to the defender hitting the ball off Bakayo Saka. The ball falls to Harry Kane. He gets it out of his body, 25 yards out, and curls it into the far left corner. i Harry Kane, he's a freak of nature.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not really sure what else you would expect, given Kane the ball in that kind of position. Goal number 75 for England, and he could have scored 76 seconds later. Yeah.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah gordon and rice linger well on the lefthand side rice floats in a bowl over the right hand side can ah the back post heads and it's cleared off the line brilliantly i must say and then the corresponding corner it takes about a minute for the referee um but the referee doesn't give it at all actually It takes about a minute for VAR to send the referee to the monitor and say, it's it's you know go to the monitor, it's a penalty.
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And during the move, Harry Kane is literally being stripped of his shirt by the Latvian defender. And as a reward for that, he took the penalty and guess what? He scored.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goal number 76 for the marksman. And with that, it turned half-time. So we're halfway through the game, probably halfway through the match reaction as a whole. So let's give ourselves a bit of a boost.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
with bit of bionique.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent stuff. So it was actually Latvia that started the second half nicely.
Second Half and Tactical Adjustments
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Started off with a great pass behind concept. Gave them a one-on-one with Pickford for the Villa defender, as we've seen them do so many times for Aston Villa.
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He got back to clear, got those long legs around the striker. and stopped him from getting forward in a legal way. um Originally, it looked like he was going to have a one-on-one. looked like it was a great chance, but the defender did brilliantly.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they had a long-range effort, which ultimately was a lot further away than it looked. um But again, Latvia made the change at half-time and actually looked the better better side because of it.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
they weren't never They were never really going to threaten England, but they gave it a good go. And to be honest, they look like the best side we've played in um and qualifying so far, which is mental when you consider they they're in a playoff to see if they play San Marino in the... in the um in the Nations League next next autumn, which is absolutely mental, really, ah when you consider we've played Serbia, but still have Serbia and Albania to play in two games left. So maybe they'll cause a little bit more threat than both of them did in the first games.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, back to the game. um it's it The fourth goal doesn't really take long to come for England, and to be honest... It is probably the worst goal I have ever seen, if I'm completely honest. Although that's maybe harsh on Jed Spence. um The ball comes back to I think it's Saka who just lays the ball off to Spence.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He whips in a beautifully curled ball um where it's just on the edge of the six-yard box. not Close enough for the keeper to actually be able to get a hand on, but close enough that he thinks he can.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Latvian goalkeeper tries to clear the ball, does his best Superman impression, um absolutely misses the ball. It hits off the Latvian defender, um who now I've got to pronounce a Latvian defender's name for the first time, believe it's Konosevs, and it bounces into the empty net. And it's it's almost embarrassing for Latvia, um but...
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are you going to do? These things happen. um And that kind of led to England taking their foot off the gas a little bit. Not to say they didn't already after half-time, but three substitutions were made.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jordan Henderson, Eberreche, Eze and Jarrod Bowen came on for Declan Rice, Morgan Rodgers and Bakayo Saka. um And I will say... I am a little concerned that Jordan Henderson keeps coming off the bench.
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I say that because the likes of Adam Wharton are left at home. While Henderson is still a decent player and he's not as washed as what many people thought he was,
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does the experience that Jordan Henderson brings really warrant not taking one of England's most exciting young talents in a position where next summer we might well need him?
Debate on Squad Selection
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Conor Gallagher doesn't really hit the heights, if Elliot Anderson picks up an injury... Are we supposed to think Jordan Henderson's going to slot in there and do a job against the likes of Brazil, Argentina?
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he does. So for me, it's it's stupid to keep bringing him. um Maybe he does bring a good atmosphere. If he does, hire a clown, hire some entertainment.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because realistically, you've got Adam Wharton waiting at home, and he is such an exciting player. He's too good to just be sat watching England games on the telly. um But back the game.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pickford then had to make more saves in 30 seconds, I think, than in the five previous games. It was the own goal scorer, Tonisevs, who forces him into a great lowdown save to his right. That causes a corner for Latvia then from the corner.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We clear it pretty easily. And then I believe it was Davicic who fires one straight at Jordan Pickford.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It actually meant Pickford had to do something, which I'm sure he's happy because it's but that's more he's had to do in one game than he's had to do in the five previous ones so far. So I'm sure he'll be happy about that.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was another clean sheet for him as well. um then couple more substitutes for england uh anthony gordon who was england's player of the match in my opinion brilliant performance from him he was substitute for marcus rashford and then it was the turn of the geordie lad big and broken dan byrne came on for john stones and i'll be honest If I'm marking Dan Byrne from a corner here in this game, I'm literally just holding his hand and I'm hoping for the best because a broken hand, when you're playing in against a side who you're 4-0 up against, it's probably a bit dangerous because they will probably just go, right, I'm done. I'm just going to hold that hand. I'm going to squeeze it.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's be honest, you're not getting anything for a handhold in the box, are you? Yeah. But I'll be honest, ah thankfully it didn't look like it happened, but I'm holding his hand and I'm praying, please don't aim for the big lad, which, to be honest, it didn't look like we did. Every corner hit the first man after that. But yeah, it was a pretty tame end to the second half.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was another goal from Eber Echieze, who does brilliantly well. yeah He links up with Jared Bowen, who again does excellently actually wins the ball in midfield from the Latvian midfielder.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, it's a loose touch. He presses them so well. Um, it's a real great credit to the West Ham man. finds as it after rush id ran off site as He Eze dribbled past a couple of players and just buried the ball in the corner.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, in the far corner, should I say? It was basically a closer, uh, to the goal version of Anthony Gordon's goal. Um, No, picturesque, brilliant.
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Done the same move twice and won it, the game with that. So that was about it. I'll leave with them two questions for those at home and listening. The first being, England have four friendlies before the World Cup.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who do you want to see us play and who do you think we need to play to get acclimatised to the tournament?
Pre-World Cup Friendly Suggestions
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think we need to play... a game or two away in America, get the players a little bit more used to the climate, maybe the time zones, etc.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
If possible, a Mexico away sounds perfect, maybe horrible for the players, um but it's something that I think we're maybe going to need. And then you need to play a team that's really going to test that England defence because the worst we've had is Serbia who didn't want to attack us.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can say Senegal in a friendly, but England's attitude on the day was terrible. Senegal were absolutely fantastic. Credit to them. But don't think that's a I don't think that tells us how England are going to play at the World Cup. So realistically, I think we need to play in Argentina, Spain, even Portugal, and just get used to having those, particularly wingers if it's Portugal.
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Because we Portugal have some fantastic wingers who can go down and beat a man, still play great football, ah but they're a bit more direct. Spain, still going to be that ticky-tacky style, but you've got focus. It's a very different style of play, but they can still hurt you, as we saw in the final.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Argentina, just a completely different opposition. They're a bit more ragged. They're a bit rough, but you're going to you know you're goingnna know you're in a game afterwards. So I think England...
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Three different teams. we' They'll test England in different ways. I would love to see them play one of them before the World Cup, even if it means a loss to learn more about the team and what we need going into that tournament.
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then to finish... Final question.
Harry Kane's Goal-Scoring Potential
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Harry Kane is now 32. I think he stays as England's number one striker for another four years, simply due to the lack of quality coming through in striker at the moment.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has 76 goals for England after the brace tonight. Does Harry Kane get 100 international goals for England? Let me know your thoughts. Personally,
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he does. And I'm going to pinpoint the exact moment I think it happens. I think it's going to happen in the qualifying stages towards the end of the qualifying stages, let's say, for the next European Championships, which will probably be four years, I guess, now.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But that could all change if another striker comes through the ranks. Maybe it's Sean Neve, who knows. um I hope it is, to be honest, because England needs someone and if a Geordie can fill that gap, that'd be beautiful.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no one looks like doing it right now. That's all from me on the Daily Newcastle podcast and it's the end of our England journey for another month. Whether you're thankful about that or you're a little disappointed with that,
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's only another month until we see the next one. It's 15 goals that reply for England and America wait awaits the England boys. See you later.