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England earned their place at the global tournament with a comfortable triumph over Latvia on Tuesday evening.

England's Starting XI

• The goalkeeper – Made a few of fine stops in the second half to extend his impressive clean sheet streak. That's nine straight in a row. 6.5
• The defender – Seems at home in international football with ease. More challenging tests lie ahead, of course, but a positive start to his England career. 7
• Manchester City's centre-back – A pair of fixtures in less than a week will do the City defender a great benefit. Remains one of the automatic picks on the starting lineup, fitness permitting. 7
• Aston Villa's defender – Selected ahead of his competitor and was flawless. Made an superb last-ditch recovery tackle in the later stages to boot. 7
• The young defender – Looked a little ring rusty at times, understandable given his lack of action at his club. An interesting few months ahead. 6
• Newcastle's star – Looks irreplaceable in this England team at the moment. Appears tailored for this level and has developed an strong partnership with Rice. 7
• Arsenal's engine – Thriving in his advanced midfield role. The backbone of England's midfield is displaying his attacking abilities now. Becoming a real all-round midfielder. 7
• The forward – Not as impactful as he has been in England's victories over Serbia and Wales. It will be revealed next month who is the rightful holder of the number 10 shirt. 6
• Arsenal's star – Added an setup to his excellent goal against Wales last Thursday. Will be vital to England's prospects next summer. 7.5
• The striker – In the form of his life. Boosted his count for the season to 20 goals. Has found the net 76 times for his country. Can he reach 100? 8
• The forward – Precise finish to get the ball rolling for England here in the Latvian capital. Has acquitted himself well during this international window. 7.5

Subs' Impact

• Jordan Henderson (for Rice 60) – Maintained the tempo in midfield. 6
• The playmaker (for Rogers 60) – Well-executed goal and a menace. 7
• Jarrod Bowen (for Saka 60) – Faces competition on his hands to be selected when the squad is full. 6
• The defender (for Stones 71) – Predictably, dealt with everything in the air. 6
• Manchester United's star (for Gordon 71) – One pacy run down the left caught the eye. 6

With their place secured, the squad can now prepare for the World Cup with confidence.