Tuchel Seeks Improvements As England Enjoys Perfect Start With Two Wins

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Thomas Tuchel remains focused on enhancing England's performance, even after securing two wins in his initial matches. England achieved a 3-0 victory against Latvia, with Reece James and Eberechi Eze scoring their first international goals. Harry Kane added his 71st goal for the team. The match saw England dominate with 27 shots, resulting in an expected goals (xG) value of 3.53, while Latvia managed only three attempts.

England's unbeaten streak in home qualifying matches for major tournaments now stands at 39 games (35 wins, 4 draws). Tuchel is the first permanent manager since Fabio Capello in September 2008 to win his first two competitive games with England. Despite a mix-up between Jordan Pickford and Marc Guehi that gave Latvia a chance, England maintained control. Tuchel anticipates further improvements in future matches.

Reece James made a memorable return to the national team by scoring a remarkable free-kick in the 38th minute. This marked his first start for England since September 2022. He became the first defender to score a direct free-kick goal for England at Wembley since Stuart Pearce in November 1992 against Turkiye. Reflecting on his comeback, James expressed joy at being called up again after two challenging years.

"It has been a long time, I have had a frustrating two years," James told ITV. "I'm so happy to be called up by my country again. I saw the wall and felt I could bend it round. I was a bit surprised it hit the net." He also acknowledged Tuchel's clear vision and objectives leading up to the World Cup.

While James celebrated his first international goal, Harry Kane continued his impressive form by scoring his 17th goal in as many appearances at Wembley. Kane is familiar with Tuchel's coaching style from their time together at Bayern Munich last season and appreciates the energy he brings to the team.

"Overall we can be pleased with two wins and two clean sheets," Kane said. "We had to be patient. Thomas Tuchel is fantastic, he has settled in straight away. He is a pleasure to work for, he has brought the passion."

The match against Latvia was not without its challenges; however, Tuchel was satisfied with the team's attitude and energy. "It was not an easy match," Tuchel told ITV. "We saw a lot of good things, created good chances." He noted that they needed a free-kick to break through but praised the players' desire and commitment.

Tuchel highlighted areas needing improvement despite their success: "The second half we started to slow the game down and made little movement, which makes no sense." He emphasised encouraging players like Declan Rice to accelerate late into plays for better results.

The team's performance under Tuchel shows promise as they prepare for upcoming international fixtures. With key players like James returning and Kane maintaining form, expectations are high for continued success.