Thomas Tuchel always did bring the best out of Reece James. They won the Champions League together at Chelsea in 2021.
Tuchel’s belief in James was again vindicated here when the defender scored one of the best free-kicks ever seen at Wembley.
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It wasn’t quite on a par with Paul Gascoigne’s curling classic for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in 1991. Or Frank Lampard’s for Chelsea against Spurs in 2012. Or Charlie Adam’s for Blackpool against Cardiff City that helped bring promotion to the Premier League in 2010.
James’ was a terrific goal out of keeping with a routine qualifying win over lowly visitors who came to defend.
There were other positives for Tuchel beyond victory and James’ all-round excellence.
There was further evidence of Myles Lewis-Skelly’s technical class and tactical nous, greater involvement from Marcus Rashford this time, a 71st goal for Harry Kane and a spritely goalscoring cameo from the bench from Eberechi Eze.
Morgan Rogers, who unleashed some driving runs, advanced his case, too. Some will moan over the absence of sustained quality, but qualifying is about the destination rather than the journey.
Latvia reflected their lowly status and ranking of 140th in the world, nestling between Burundi and Dominican Republic. They had little ambition, and simply invited England to try to break down their 5-4-1 configuration.
The game was largely attack against defence. England had to stay patient.
So did the fans, although a few launched paper aeroplanes. Wembley had sold out, although wasn’t full, and those here were at least treated to James’ gem.
Few, if any, will have seen such little celebration by the goalscorer. He reflected afterwards about his frustration at missing so many games.
But surely there should have been a cathartic outpouring? A goal of such beauty deserved greater celebration than a raised left eyebrow by James. It deserved a full Marco Tardelli joyous slalom or a Thierry Henry knee-slide.
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Maybe it was simply relief for James. His England career has been pockmarked by injury and long absences.
His commitment to the cause was even questioned by Gareth Southgate when he opted to stay and train at Chelsea rather than play in a Euro 2024 qualifier. Now Trent Alexander-Arnold has a challenge to regain the right-back position.
Tuchel knows James’ qualities well. James played wing-back against Manchester City in that epic 2021 Champions League final.
He tried to get forward from right-back here, linking with Jarrod Bowen but the moment that defined the half, and lifted some of the tedium, came from a dead-ball.
Lewis-Skelly, again starting at left-back but stepping earlier into midfield as a 6, won this momentous free-kick after 38 minutes. It was almost 30 yards from goal, right of centre.
It was cleverly worked by England, and a reminder of Anthony Barry’s presence in Tuchel’s staff. Barry has an extensive portfolio of set-piece plans.
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Rogers and Rashford formed a mini shadow wall to the right of Latvia’s five-man barrier. That blocked the view of Latvia’s excellent keeper, Krisjanis Zviedris.
James ran in, the wall jumped, but Latvia’s leapers were never going to reach a ball that rose and soared and then dropped and curled in at the far-post. Zviedris hardly had time to see it, let alone get near it.
James was engulfed by teammates delighted in a popular player’s first goal for England and on his first start since September 2022.
He didn’t celebrate beyond a laugh with Jude Bellingham. But it was the sweetest of moments for a talented right-back stalked too often by ankle, hamstring, knee and thigh injuries.
It was a moment of glee and relief for Tuchel, who certainly didn’t hold back in his celebrations.
Tuchel had set up England to attack, attack, attack but they lacked a killer pass.
Declan Rice anchored in a 4-1-4-1 system that switched into 3-2-2-3 in possession. Lewis-Skelly stepped into midfield alongside Rice. Bellingham and Rogers were joint 10s, quick to support Kane through the middle.
Rashford and Jarrod Bowen stayed wide, and tried to run their wing-backs. Latvia simply doubled up on them.
England had a problem to solve. Rashford’s impact against Albania on Friday evening was questioned by the demanding Tuchel.
He did more here, running with increasing determination in from the left. He created five chances in the first half alone.
He was challenged by Roberts Savalnieks and went down far too cheaply, claiming a penalty, rightly waved away by the referee.
England then suffered a scare. Latvia’s very lone striker, Vladislavs Gutkovskis, almost in a separate postcode to his team-mates, pounced on a mix-up between Jordan Pickford and Marc Guehi.
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Gutkovskis was right of the goal, the angle tight, and found only the side-netting. Pickford looked relieved. This was not have been a good memory from the night he moved alongside two celebrated England goalkeepers in David Seaman and Joe Hart on 75 caps.
Latvia’s keeper, Zviedris, enjoyed the more impressive half, saving from Ezri Konsa. But he had no chance when James came calling.
Tuchel made a switch at the break, instructing Rashford and Bowen to swap flanks.
He began his changes on the hour. Eze replaced Bowen and there was surely a temptation to hook Bellingham.
England’s No.10 had finished the first half with a booking for a late challenge on Dmitrijs Zelenkovs and then began the second by diving in and catching Raivis Jurkovskis. The referee showed remarkable clemency.
Bellingham is such a special player and England need him on the pitch and fully focused if they are to advance far in the World Cup. He has already been warned by Tuchel about his discipline and was withdrawn after 67 minutes here.
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Phil Foden came on, and into his best position, as a No 10. Rashford was still right with Eze left.
Rashford was involved in the slick move that brought a nerve-settling second after 68 minutes.
James dinked the ball down the inside-right channel, Rashford linked with Rogers, the overlapping Rice crossed and Kane pounced from close range.
Eze had to wait a while to have his first goal for England confirmed. He ventured in on a switchback run from the left and his shot deflected in off Latvia’s captain, Antonijs Cernomordijs, before eventually being awarded to Eze.
Tuchel then made some strange changes by sending on Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker, part of England’s past surely, and Curtis Jones, who is definitely part of England’s future.
Why not Morgan-Gibbs White? Bizarre. Rashford, Rice and Lewis-Skelly departed. Wembley was slowly emptying by then.
England hadn’t really excited, beyond James’ moment of set-piece mastery. But it was another step closer to the World Cup.