Imagine a scoreline so dominant, it echoes through youth football: England’s U19s decimated Latvia 7-0! But was it just a simple victory, or does it hint at a deeper shift in England’s youth development? Let’s dive in.
Published: November 15, 2025
Reading Time: Approximately 3 minutes
Category: Men’s U19 Football
Author: Holly Hunt
Will Antwi’s young squad, affectionately known as the Young Lions, continued their impressive run in the UEFA U19 EURO 2026 qualifying campaign. Following their previous victory against Lithuania, they unleashed an unstoppable offensive display against Latvia, securing a resounding 7-0 win. This victory not only solidifies their position in the qualifiers but also sends a strong message to their competitors.
The game started with a bang! Just two minutes into the match, Chris Rigg, a name already buzzing in football circles, played a brilliant through ball to Rio Ngumoha. Ngumoha, displaying impressive composure, cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a stunning, curling shot from outside the penalty area, leaving the Latvian goalkeeper with no chance. A dream start for England!
Around ten minutes later, England doubled their lead. Jesse Derry, proving to be a constant threat, was brought down inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Divine Mukasa stepped up to take the spot-kick with ice in his veins, calmly sending the keeper the wrong way. Mukasa’s confidence is definitely something to watch.
Derry then etched his own name onto the scoresheet. England’s relentless pressing paid off as they won back possession deep in the Latvian half. Max Dowman, with a burst of pace, surged into the box before cleverly finding Derry, who blasted the ball into the net for England’s third goal. The teamwork was simply sublime.
Just before halftime, England made it four. The Young Lions once again exploited space down the left flank, with Mukasa turning provider this time, playing in Rigg. Rigg, perfectly timing his run, unleashed a looping effort that dipped perfectly over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. A goal of pure artistry!
After the interval, England showed no signs of slowing down. Derry capitalized on a defensive mix-up in the Latvian backline to grab his second goal, tapping into an empty net. It’s these moments of ruthlessness that separate good teams from great teams.
And with just over an hour played, Derry completed his hat-trick in style. He combined brilliantly with Trey Nyoni in a neat passing move, before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that kissed the post on its way in. A perfect hat-trick goal!
Mukasa then added his second goal of the game, converting England’s second penalty. Substitute Jeremy Monga was fouled in the box, and Mukasa confidently rolled the ball into the net from 12 yards, completing the rout and securing England’s seventh goal.
Antwi’s team will now conclude their trip to Lithuania with their final fixture in the first qualifying round against Scotland on Tuesday, November 18th, with a 10 am GMT kick-off. This match promises to be a much sterner test. But here’s where it gets controversial… Scotland, known for their resilience and tactical discipline, won’t be pushovers. Will England maintain their attacking dominance, or will Scotland expose vulnerabilities?
England Starting XI:
* Khari Ranson (Arsenal)
* Leo Shahar (Newcastle United)
* Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City)
* Trey Nyoni (Liverpool)
* Kian Noble (Manchester City)
* Divine Mukasa (Manchester City)
* Chris Rigg (Sunderland)
* Max Dowman (Arsenal)
* Jack Fletcher (Manchester United)
* Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
* Jesse Derry (Chelsea)
Substitutes: Souleymane Sidibe (PSV Eindhoven) for Rigg 46’, Samuel Amissah (Fulham) for Mfuni 46’, Jeremy Monga (Leicester City) for Dowman 46’, Harry Amass (Sheffield Wednesday, loan from Manchester United) for Nyoni 68’, Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United) for Noble 78’
Unused Substitutes: Nicolas Michalski (Blackburn Rovers), Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea)
Head Coach: Will Antwi
Goalscorers: Ngumoha 2’, Mukasa 11’ 72’, Derry 23’ 52’ 62’, Rigg 40’
This comprehensive victory raises some interesting questions. Is this England squad truly special, capable of challenging for the EURO title? Or was this simply a case of a dominant team facing weaker opposition? And this is the part most people miss… Could this emphatic win actually put more pressure on the team going forward? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Are you excited about the future of English football? Do you think this generation can bring home the trophy? Let’s discuss!