World Cup Qualification: Harry Kane Back in the Fold as England Faces Latvia
England captain Harry Kane has been declared fit by manager Thomas Tuchel and is set to lead the team against Latvia, where a win could secure World Cup qualification.
“Maybe people outside expected more than just the 2-0 and underestimated the defensive performance from Andorra a little bit...”
England captain Harry Kane is fit and ready to lead the team against Latvia, according to manager Thomas Tuchel. This comes ahead of a crucial game where England can secure World Cup qualification. Kane had missed the 3-0 friendly win over Wales due to an ankle injury picked up in Bayern Munich's last game.
Kane's return is timely, as England looks to seal their World Cup spot with a win in Latvia. Thomas Tuchel expressed confidence in Kane's fitness, stating he doesn't see why he wouldn't play 90 minutes. England tops Group K with maximum points after five matches and can secure qualification with two games to spare.
“It's easy with Harry, he can play, he's fit. We did the right thing. He's top in training and ready to go,” Tuchel told reporters.
“I don't see why he should not be able to play 90 minutes. The pause was just a short pause for him. He played all matches before for Bayern Munich, so I don't see any obstacles there.”
England tops Group K with maximum points after five matches, and a win in Riga on Tuesday would secure their spot at next year's World Cup. Despite criticism for some underwhelming performances, England's consistent results have put them in a strong position.
Our captain 🏴 pic.twitter.com/ee7lLm9f2p
— England (@England) October 13, 2025
The team has won all five group games without conceding a goal, but criticism has come for their struggles against weaker opponents like Andorra. However, England looked more convincing in their 5-0 thrashing of Serbia, showcasing their strength and depth. Thomas Tuchel will be pleased with the positives from the campaign so far.
“I saw it even against Andorra at home, even if we couldn't prove it in terms of the result,” Tuchel said.
“Maybe people outside expected more than just the 2-0 and underestimated the defensive performance from Andorra a little bit.
“Then we had, of course, two very good results, good performances lately against Serbia and against Wales, and we want to take the next step.
“I feel that we are building something and we are going in the right direction, but as always in sports, tomorrow is the most difficult game. Tomorrow we have to show respect to our opponent, respect the circumstances.”
If England qualifies in Riga, Thomas Tuchel will have two pressure-free qualifying games, giving him a chance to experiment and give younger players or fringe squad members valuable experience. However, for now, Tuchel is focused on the task at hand and not looking beyond the Latvia match.
“Believe it or not, my thoughts are not about November right now because it will change a lot if we can fix qualification or not,” Tuchel said.
“At the moment, when I say I expect a win, I expect, first of all, a performance that makes us the deserved winners.
“I know well enough that it's never guaranteed to win football matches. Too many things can happen. Luck and being unlucky are such a big part of the game, but we are in the moment where we expect the next good performance.”
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