2026 World Cup Qualification: Predicting England's lineup vs Latvia

• Jordan Pickford to earn his 80th England cap

• Elliot Anderson to start alongside Declan Rice in midfield after impressing again

• Bukayo Saka to start again after an excellent display against Wales

Ahead of their World Cup Qualifier against Latvia, Ladbrokes has a punt at predicting England's lineup, with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane featuring.

After a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night, England's attention turns back to World Cup Qualification as they head to Latvia for a Group K clash - but who will keep their place in the starting XI?

Thomas Tuchel is never the easiest man to predict, and having a punt at the England lineup is always a difficult task - but we love a challenge at Ladbrokes. So, let's predict England lineup vs Latvia.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

• GK - Jordan Pickford

• RB - Ezri Konsa

• CB - John Stones

• CB - Marc Guehi

• LB - Myles Lewis-Skelly

• CM - Declan Rice

• CM - Elliot Anderson

• RW - Bukayo Saka

• CAM - Eberechi Eze

• LW - Marcus Rashford

• ST - Harry Kane (C)

We shouldn't have been surprised to see Jordan Pickford start Thursday night's friendly against Wales, with the 31-year-old playing six of Thomas Tuchel's seven games as England boss - so this seems an easy choice to kick off our predictions.

Pickford is even getting 90 minutes in friendlies, which demonstrates just how crucial Tuchel thinks consistency between the sticks is - with his only defeat as England boss coming at the hands of Senegal when he did rotate his keeper. We're expecting to see Pickford don the #1 shirt again in Latvia, with the Everton man earning his 80th cap.

Following the news that Reece James has pulled out of this month's England squad through injury, a space has opened up at right back that Ezri Konsa filled expertly against Wales - so we're expecting him to get the nod at full back again.

The only problem with Konsa having to play right back is that it means he can't play centre back, but as long as he is on the pitch, England's defence seems comfortable. He even notched an assist on Thursday night, linking up nicely with Bukayo Saka and seamlessly bringing his club form onto the international stage. The Villa man impressed there against Wales, so we're predicting that Konsa will once again start at right back.

After a comfortable 80 minutes against Wales on Thursday night, John Stones could feel hard done by if he's left out of the England lineup for their World Cup Qualifier with Latvia - so we're predicting that he will start again.

Stones hasn't had consistent game time for a long while, but there should be more than enough recovery time in between the matches for the Man City defender, which would point to him lining up at centre back again. The 31-year-old defender has 83 England caps to his name, which could be vital experience come the World Cup in 2026 - so cementing him into the team now may well be in Tuchel's thoughts. We're backing another start for Stones here, and cap #84.

Marc Guehi is fast becoming the main man in England's back line, even contributing at the other end of the pitch in his last couple of games. A man of the match display against Wales makes it incredibly hard for Tuchel to leave him out of the starting XI in Latvia, so this seems another easy pick.

Guehi has started the Premier League season in typically steady form, already keeping a few clean sheets for a Crystal Palace side that is starting to threaten the top six. The Palace skipper has been incredibly reliable for Tuchel so far, and is looking nailed on to board the plane this summer. He completes a defensive partnership that should be too strong for Latvia.

Despite starting the season as the deputy to Riccardo Calafiori - and not even getting in our predicted Arsenal lineup this season - Ladbrokes is putting Myles Lewis-Skelly in our predicted England XI to face Latvia, with the teenager already proving to be a very useful player for Thomas Tuchel.

Djed Spence was preferred at left back in England's friendly win against Wales, with Lewis-Skelly's lack of starts at Arsenal potentially impacting his England chances - but he has still proven that he's more than capable. New call-up Nico O'Reilly will also provide stern competition moving forward, but having sat out for the bulk of the friendly vs Wales, we're tipping Lewis-Skelly to be in from the start against Latvia.

Even though he was carrying a small knock, Declan Rice was given the armband against Wales as he ran the midfield alongside Elliot Anderson for 70 minutes - proving just how important he is in Thomas Tuchel's eyes.

Rice has become one of the Premier League's best midfielders over the last couple of seasons, and has seemingly locked down a place in that England midfield for many years to come. His consistency, leadership, and undeniable quality makes him a must-have in any England team - particularly in competitive matches - so Declan Rice will be in from the start at the Daugavas Stadiona.

Alongside Rice, we're predicting that Elliot Anderson will start for England for the fourth consecutive match, with the 22-year-old leaving a lasting impression throughout his three previous caps. We didn't anticipate Nottingham Forest's midfield maestro making such an immediate impact in an England shirt, but he has everything you want in a centre midfielder, so it's no surprise to see him shine.

He will bring a ruthless energy to the midfield, with technical quality and newfound European experience completing the package. It didn't take long for Tuchel to become a fan of Anderson, so the caps are likely to pile up for him in the very near future. He makes our predicted England lineup, winning cap number four.

After missing out on the last international break, Bukayo Saka quickly reminded everyone what we'd been missing with his screamer against Wales, with the Arsenal star undoubtedly a key player in any England side.

Noni Madueke did a good job of filling the 24-year-old's boots last month, but with 45 caps and 13 goals already to his name, Saka will see himself as the first-choice right winger - just as he is at Arsenal. Having only recently returned to full fitness, the friendly against Wales provided a great opportunity for Saka to impress - which he did - so we're expecting to see him in the lineup in Latvia.

From one Arsenal man to another, Ladbrokes is predicting that Eberechi Eze could be deployed in a central role when England host Wales, with the likes of Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White having to settle for a place on the bench.

The 27-year-old has made an impressive start to life at Arsenal, often playing off the left, and his newfound relationship with Saka could be an interesting point of focus for Tuchel. We're predicting that Eze will earn his 14th cap on Thursday night, and will be key in breaking down a stubborn Latvia defence.

Since his loan to Villa last season, Marcus Rashford has looked like his old self again, and having now found his feet in a Barcelona shirt, it could be difficult for Tuchel to start anyone in his place - despite Anthony Gordon's good form.

It didn't take the new manager long to get Rashford back involved in the England setup, and despite Gordon playing the full game against Wales last time out, we think it will be Rashford lining up on the left. His display against Newcastle in the Champions League particularly caught everyone's attention, so much of the same at the Daugavas Stadiona would be very welcome.

This pick hinges on Harry Kane's fitness, with England's all-time leading goalscorer staying on the bench last time out, but Ladbrokes is backing the skipper to make the starting XI again for this crucial World Cup Qualification clash.

Ollie Watkins did well stepping in for the Wales friendly, grabbing another England goal, but it will take a lot to keep Kane out for a competitive match. The talisman has 109 caps for his country, and is having a ridiculous start to the campaign with Bayern Munich - so if he is even 75% fit, he surely starts. He will certainly feature, and we're expecting it to be from the off.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.