Reece James hopes England can continue to improve for World Cup

England beat Latvia 3-0 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers with goals from Reece James, Kane and Eze. Reece James said he was happy to get another chance with the England national team and hoped the team would continue to improve as they prepare for the World Cup.

In the 38th minute of the match, Reece James scored from a free kick, giving England a 1-0 lead. In the 68th minute of the second half, Rice made a cross pass to the front of the goal, and Kane shot in, helping England continue to lead Latvia 2-0.

In the 76th minute, Eze, who came on as a substitute, received a pass from Foden, broke through the defense and shot into the goal, helping England extend their lead to 3-0.

In the end, England defeated Latvia 3-0 at Wembley Stadium and achieved two consecutive victories.

Chelsea defender Reece James, who scored for the England national team for the first time, said: "It has been a while since I last played for the national team. The past two and a half years have been very difficult for me, so I am very happy to be selected for the national team again and get the chance to play."

As for his goal, Reece James shared, "I looked at the wall and thought I could shoot around them. Fortunately, I managed to get the ball into the goal. I was a little surprised when I scored. I thought the opponent's goalkeeper might be able to save it, but after watching the replay, I found that it was indeed difficult for him."

When talking about the feeling of playing under England coach Tuchel, Reece James said, "His tactical philosophy is very clear. From the first day he took office, his goals and requirements have been set. Our only goal is to prepare for the World Cup, and this national team competition is just the starting point. We must continue to improve."

In addition, Crystal Palace midfielder Eze, who also scored his first England national team goal, shared, "Our overall performance was excellent and we knew our mission very well. Winning the game was the most important thing, and we accomplished our goal very well. Whenever I played, I hoped to have an impact on the game, and I did it."

"I'm happy to score and contribute to the team. I tried to create space and disrupt the opponent's defense before shooting, and it really worked."