La Tania does football – The England Tournament Blog
How many years of hurt?
The #EnglandAway Tournament Blog documenting our travels and misery watch the England National Football Team away from the ski season. The Ski Blog is at www.latania.co.uk/blog and there's more football stuff at La Tania does football...
#EnglandAway – Latvia
Quite a surprise getting tickets for this one so we had to go. A 3 night mini break, a lovely hotel and spa but appalling weather….
A first England visit to Riga so a lot of old school here ticking it off. The usual range of Irish Bars, a fake Hard Rock Café and an English Guinness establishment.
Not of a lot of sightseeing with the weather but we struggled on through! Never book an early flight after an England win away… yes one of our lot missed his flight on the Wednesday morning after the game – schoolboy error!
An impressive 5-0 victory that secured
England’s place in the 2026 World Cup finals.
Match Summary
- Result: Latvia 0 – 5 England
- Date: 14 October 2025
- Location: Daugavas Stadions, Riga, Latvia
- Significance: England became the first UEFA team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Goal Scorers and Key Events
- Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 26th minute.
- Harry Kane scored a quick brace just before halftime, with a goal from outside the box and a penalty kick. This took his international goal tally to 76.
- A Maksims Toņiševs own goal extended England’s lead in the 58th minute.
- Eberechi Eze completed the scoring in the 86th minute with a goal into the bottom corner.
- England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford achieved a record ninth consecutive clean sheet.
Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, England maintained a perfect qualifying record up to that point, with five wins, zero goals conceded, and an impressive goal difference.
