England added a veneer of respectability to an evening of boredom with a few second half blooms against Latvia on Monday evening. But don't fool yourself that this was the start of the revolution. Thomas Tuchel would come in like a whirlwind. So far he has been more on a light breeze.
These are of course early days in his term of office, but so far little has changed since the end times of the Gareth Southgate reign. England was boring and adequate and difficult to pass by opponents who are ranked between Burundi and the Dominican Republic in the world ranking of FIFA.
The side of Tuchel should also have been a goal in the first half, and only finishing Latvia left the hook from the hook. The 3-0 win did not flatter England in terms of the way they dominated the game, but do not think that this was convincing in any way. It was anything but.
A few days ago, Tuchel was asked what had been missed under Southgate, he did not hide. He mentioned identity, clarity, rhythm, freedom and expression.
Perhaps Tuchel starts to regret that criticism because you could have leveled exactly the same in this English team against Latvia.
There were a glimpse of mild progress. Marcus Rashford took Tuchel's criticism of his performance against Albania last week and brought them to his advantage, attacked relentlessly on the left and created an opportunity after coincidence.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was impressive again and Ebereechi Eze made a good impact when he came from the bank in the second half.
But the implementation also raised uncomfortable questions. Jude Bellingham looked out of a kind and might have been sent away. Marc Guehi was shaky in the center of defense. Jarrod Bowen made little impression on the right side of England.
And if there was the scent of Cordite in the air at the start of the game, it soon disappeared in the midst of mediocrity. Only enlivened by a brilliant free kick from Reece James, it soon became a night with paper planes and Mexican waves and a long, desire for excitement.
Tuchel has now used up one of his six international camps. There are only five before England flies to the US for the World Cup of next year. The coach of England must make progress quickly.
After all, that was the reason for him who started the job until January. He immediately wanted to have an impact and run the ground. That just didn't happen. He has two wins from two games, but victories were never the issue under Southgate.
England with style would win under Tuchel. So far there has been no sign of that improvement. Maybe people will soon start asking again if this is not about the manager and whether we should look at the latest golden generation in England.
Tuchel handed James, a player he had been handing over Chelsea, a first England start since 2022 since his days, but one of his first actions left the coach of England in his hands.
James challenged Andrejs Ciganiks when he went on a header and the defender in Latvia Platte when his shoulder made contact with the head of Ciganiks. There were sneaking of the alarm. Ciganiks got up quickly, but James was lucky to stay on the field.
After 20 minutes of grinding, Letland should have taken the lead. There should be no danger when Roberts Savalnieks pushed a long ball forward, but Marc Guehi and Jordan Pickford clashed and when the ball walked loose, Vladislavs gutkovskis with an open goal. He didn't even come close. His shot nestled on the side.
The postponed England shocked in action. Rashford went down in the box, but he fell before the defender made contact with him.
Then, after a Bellingham header Rashford had hit, Ezri Konsa broke a shot and brought a beautiful point-white reaction from Krisjanis Zviedris. It was one of the best stops that this stadium has seen for several years.
Latvia survived another penalty claim when Zviedris dropped a corner and then Jarrod Bowen seemed to bring down. VAR made a long check but rejected England's profession. Yet England looked like they could score from each set piece they took. And there were enough.
Eight minutes before the interval they finally nailed a nail. And they nailed it in style. England won a free kick on the edge of the area and James stroked the wall so that it curled high into the net.
There was a huge roar of appreciation of the crowd. It was a goal to adorn every game.
However, England soon fell back in their Torpor. Guehi slid out as he tried to cut out as a driven pass and when the ball fell to Alvis Jaunzems, his snapshot almost wriggled through Pickford's hands.
Jude Bellingham, who was booked just before the break, was lucky not to be shown a red when he slid through the back of Raivis Jurkovskis and stretched him out. It looked like a clear second yellow, but Bellingham escaped.
England came in the neighborhood after an hour when Bellingham checked a bustling pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly to set up Kane for half a chance, but Kane curled its left-foot shot from 14 meters from just wide.
Halfway through half, a minute after Tuchel had replaced Bellingham and parts of the crowd had begun to nod away, England suddenly burst out of their slowness and doubled their lead.
Morgan Rogers slid a neat pass to Declan Rice, who burst on the right, and Rice drilled a low ball over the face of the six-year-box where Kane tapped home for his 71st England goal.
The third of England, 15 minutes of time, was a good individual effort of replacement Ebereechi Eze, which turned the left wing and cut in before he shot into a shot that Antonijs Cernomordijs and a wrong foot bent.
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