IT is one thing shooting fish in a barrel in the piddling drizzle of a brass-monkeys night by the Baltic.
And it will be quite another to lift aloft the World Cup in the stifling heat of New Jersey next July.
But with Harry Kane in the most prolific form of his career, do not bet against the England skipper producing the defining moment of his life’s work at the American World Cup of 2026.
Kane struck twice shortly before half-time to take his season’s tally to 21 goals in 12 games for his club, Bayern Munich, and his country – as Thomas Tuchel’s men confirmed their place at that great global jamboree.
The Three Lions are the first European team to qualify after six straight wins and six straight clean sheets – with Anthony Gordon netting a fine opener before Djed Spence forced a second-half own goal.
England have found a pleasing rhythm during their last three matches – home and hosed by half-time against Serbia, Wales and now Latvia.
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Tuchel’s team look settled and confident – and it will not be easy for absentees such as Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold to win back their places.
Captain Kane was the Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup but the penalty-skying villain of the quarter-final defeat by France in Qatar last time out.
Yet he is now confirmed as the greatest English goalscorer of all time and is getting better with age.
Kane remains widely under-appreciated, too often damned with faint praise as a ‘flat-track bully’ and perhaps only the crowning glory of a major international trophy will ever see him properly lauded.
These qualifying campaigns can feel like such an arduous waste of time but that is largely because England have become so extremely adept at navigation them, first under Gareth Southgate and now under Tuchel.
Kane was back from injury in place of Ollie Watkins, Marc Guehi made way for Myles Lewis-Skelly in defence and the rest was the same starting eleven that had skewered Wales at Wembley on Thursday night.
The Daugava stadium is hardly one of international football’s more intimidating cauldrons.
A row of trees line one side of a pitch surrounded by an athletics track and after a 2-2 draw with Andorra on Saturday, the locals were hardly thumping their chests or baring their teeth.
With a 9.45pm local kick-off time, it was a wonder so many had even bothered to turn up.
The travelling supporters were quick to get stuck into Tuchel for his criticism of the Wembley atmosphere – ‘are we loud enough for you?’ and ‘our support is f***ing s**t’.
Kane had already netted in the first minute, only to be flagged for offside, when he squandered an excellent chance, shooting wide from close range after a neat exchange with Gordon.
It soon turned into one of those familiar exercises in trying to break down a congested defence. These qualifiers often bear less resemblance to football matches than mediaeval sieges.
Lewis-Skelly and Elliot Anderson were off target from range before the Latvian battlements were breached on 26 minutes.
John Stones picked out the artful lofted pass down the left which released Gordon, who rounded his man, cut inside and shot sweetly inside the far post.
The Newcastle winger then fired an imaginary arrow at a line of photographers before VAR judged him narrowly onside.
It was a moment of inspiration and Latvia were well and truly suckered following a rare foray into England’s half.
The class and experience of Stones will be more crucial than ever in America after experienced defenders like Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have fallen out of favour or into retirement.
Just before half-time came a quick one-two from Kane which put the result beyond doubt.
The first was a result of excellent England pressing, an interception from Bukayo Saka cannoning into the path of Kane who arrowed a low shot into the corner. Another clinical moment which will have thrilled Tuchel.
Within a minute England had forced a corner, Kane had his shirt pulled and after a delayed VAR intervention, the skipper sent keeper Krisjanis Zviedris the wrong way from the spot.
Kane had forced that corner with a downward header which asked an excellent save of Zviedris, following a devilish move involving Declan Rice and Gordon.
England were relishing their task now, moving the ball at pace, stretching the Latvians and showing no mercy in front of goal.
After a goal-saving tackle from Ezri Konsa, England were soon four-up – a Djed Spence cross was flapped at by Zviedris and ricocheted in off sub Maksims Tonisevs.
Job done, Tuchel started resting legs as he introduced Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen and Jordan Henderson.
England stalled after those changes and both Tonisevs and Eduards Daskevics threatened Jordan Pickford’s nine-match clean-sheet streak.
But Kane forced a decent save as he narrowly missed out on a first international hat-trick since 2021.
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Maybe he is saving his next one for July, so that he can keep company with Sir Geoff Hurst.
In the 86th minute, Eze cut in from the left to drill inside the far post after excellent work from fellow sub Bowen.
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