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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER and OLIVER HOLT, CHIEF SPORTS WRITER and CRAIG HOPE AT AT DAUGAVA STADIUM IN RIGA Updated: 05: 59 AEDT, 15 October 2025 22 View comments Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as England travel to Riga for their World Cup qualifier against Latvia at the Daugava Stadium, with Oliver Holt, Ian Ladyman and Jack Gaughan reporting from the ground. Oh, Harry, Harry, Harry. .. how have you missed that? Kane is supposedly in the form of his life, but I think I may have even scored that. OK, I am being dramatic, but Kane really should score as Anthony Gordon puts the ball on a plate for him six yards from goal. But he fires wide. .. 'Are we loud enough for you? ' Now, this is the type of chant we love to hear. The England fans are singing toward Thomas Tuchel, who had a pop at them being quiet at Wembley last week. Now they are singing 'Our support is f***ing s***'. Banter. Sorry, I have to talk about the stadium again. It's just such a weird sight seeing a bunch of trees as the backdrop to Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane knocking the ball about. This feels almost like a home match, though. All you can hear are the England fans belting out their chants. I feel like I am at the Kassam. What a start. .. oh wait! Harry Kane nods the ball in the net inside 60 seconds, but the flag is up. And yeah, watching the replay, Bukayo Saka was miles offside in the build-up to Kane's header. And I mean MILES. The national anthems are done, huddles have been had, and the players are in position. Off we go. Can England book their place in next year's World Cup? We will find out in 90 minutes. I love quirky stadiums. The players have just emerged from the tunnel, and it has made me realise how funky this ground is. It's like they are about to play at my old University, not a professional football ground. I'm pretty sure I have ran track at bigger stadiums than this. .. But this is why games like this are so enticing, you think it will be a walk in the park, but it very rarely is. England will have to work hard tonight. Thomas Tuchel, England manager, on ITV: We are nearly there, guys. There are now just over five minutes until we see the Three Lions playing once again. The warm-ups are over, and from what I saw, they looked fairly sharp out there. Well, bar a few honking efforts, but mainly all looked good. Ezri Konsa, England defender, on ITV: Craig Hope at Daugava Stadium in Riga: There are floodlights, and then there are these. I mean, they are just blooming enormous (yes, you know what word I wanted to say). They make the stand in between them look tiny. Yes, it is tiny, but still. .. Right, let's cast our minds back to March. That was when England last faced Latvia, and well, it was a fairly routine night for the Three Lions. Reece James scored an absolute banger of a free-kick, while Eberechi Eze netted his first goal for his country and, of course, Harry Kane scored too. A comfortable three-goal win under the lights at Wembley. Thomas Tuchel will be hoping that this evening is as painless as that one was. Is this a training pitch? I mean, this picture makes it look as though England are at a training stadium getting ready for a session. But nope, the Daugava Stadium just has three stands and is surrounded by trees. A cool setting, a nicer version of the Kassam in Oxford, but hardly the environment for an international friendly. It will feel strange to play in for many of these players. Joe Cole, former England midfielder, speaking to Paddy Power: Thomas Tuchel might just have found his new No. 6. Ever since coming into the England set-up last camp, Elliot Anderson has started every match. He seems to have nailed down his spot in the midfield. Now, I know what you are all thinking. .. what about Adam Wharton? I mean, I agree. Wharton is the definition of a baller and in my eyes should be starting for the Three Lions. However, Anderson has been superb ever since his first cap against Andorra, and it will be tough to rip the lad away from the starting line-up. Will he put in another stellar display tonight? Alan Shearer, former England captain, speaking to Betfair: Harry Kane is going to break Peter Shilton's record, isn't he? The England captain is set to make his 110th appearance for the Three Lions, which is just 15 away from Shilton's all-time record of caps. Just the 16 to go, Harry. Kane already has the goal-scoring record with 74 goals, which isn't far off being deemed unbreakable, and soon he will have another. We have our answer. Harry Kane comes straight back in to start up top, replacing the injured Ollie Watkins. Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly comes in to replace Marc Guehi as the second of two changes. The rest as is for Thomas Tuchel's men. Thomas Tuchel, England manager, on Harry Kane: By Harry Bamforth Some players are just built different. Harry Kane is one of those players. He came into this international break with an injury, and I don't think anybody expected him to feature in either of England's games. But the Three Lions skipper seems to be Superman when it comes to rehab and has already sorted himself out. With Ollie Watkins out injured, the timing is perfect for Kane to come back in and start up top. But will Tuchel risk him? By Harry Bamforth Things are finally coming together for Thomas Tuchel. It's fair to say, not everybody was a fan of the German being in the job at both the start of his reign, but especially in June when the Three Lions lost to Senegal. It wasn't just the defeat at the City Ground that day, but the manner of it. While it was only the first loss of his reign, England had been boring to watch in every single match he took charge of. But oh, how things have changed. After handing out a few thumpings over the past month, you can say that the vibes are truly back in the England camp. Everything's coming up, Millhouse, at last. They have won all five of their World Cup qualifiers so far and have yet to even concede a goal. Can they make it six tonight and maintain their 100 per cent record? The World Cup beckons. You know that Green Day song about the US? No, not American Idiot. .. 'Back in the USA, for a small town serenade with fireworks on display. ' Those lyrics are from their song Back in the USA - not like it's made obvious by those lyrics, cough cough - and this song may be ringing around England's dressing room if things go well tonight. England are just one win away from securing a place in next year's World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada. If they beat Latvia tonight, their tickets will be booked. I'm hoping that whatever happens this evening, we get fireworks on display like Green Day belt out in their banger of a tune. One small step for the players, a giant step for England. .. get it? Anyway, let's get this show on the road. Could England possibly have got an easier group?
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