'We will get there' - who were winners & losers for Tuchel's England?

"It is good, because I learn about my team and my team learn about me," said Thomas Tuchel after his England reign started with routine World Cup qualifying wins over Albania and Latvia.

"We will get there."

Some players played their way into Tuchel's thinking, while some may have played their way out of the team.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Reece James and Eberechi Eze all got their first England goals - while Harry Kane netted in both games.

Lewis-Skelly and James both staked their claims at full-back - but things are less clear at centre-back or on the wings.

Albania and Latvia were limited opponents who only briefly threatened to score at Wembley though.

Former England goalkeeper and BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Rob Green said: "Tuchel on reflection will turn around and say 'how much could I expect from these two games?'

"It's been the bare minimum. Still a lot of question marks."

Tuchel added to the BBC: "These qualifiers bring a bit of tension, what happens when the going gets tough, how will the players react? It is important to get better.

"I will always fight for them because they have been great in training. Some players played out of position. Taking this into account, overall I am very positive."

BBC Sport has a look at who the winners and losers of this England camp were.

'Reece's quality at highest level' - the full-back options

Reece James had not started a game for England since September 2022, before the Qatar World Cup which he missed through injury

James was making his first England start since September 2022 against Latvia - and took his chance in style.

The 25-year-old - who won the Champions League with Tuchel at Chelsea - has seen his career plagued by injury but is back fit right now.

"Reece's quality is at the highest level," said Tuchel afterwards. "We were in close contact in the last weeks. We knew he was in good shape and a good space mentally. That's what he proved. He was very positive throughout the camp."

AC Milan's Kyle Walker, 34, started the first game against Albania - and was solid - with James taking the right-back spot three days later.

A sensational 25-yard effort into the top corner made him England's first defender to score a free-kick at Wembley since Stuart Pearce in 1992.

"I love Reece James," said BBC pundit Green. "He's a brilliant footballer. There are question marks over both right-backs.

"Where will Walker be in a year's time? What stage in his career, what shape are we looking at going into the World Cup?

"Nobody doubts James' quality, mentality, intelligence. He's a fit guy and his body lets him down now and again.

"If you could take Walker's fitness and put it into James' body you've got someone who can be there at end of the World Cup who can match anyone in the world."

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, who missed these games through injury, will be a strong contender for that spot when he returns.

Teenage Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, who scored on his international debut on Friday, was lively again - and won the free-kick which James scored from.

The 18-year-old, as he does at club level, often stepped into a central midfield role alongside Gunners team-mate Declan Rice.

"He showed in patches what he can do going forward with runs in behind, what he can do controlling in midfield," said Green. "Tonight was not the headline grabbing performance of Friday but really a competent and versatile performance.

"[Newcastle's] Lewis Hall will have to stake a strong case when he comes back."

'They didn't do themselves any harm' - who impressed at centre-back?

Ezri Konsa forced a stunning reflex save from Latvia keeper Krisjanis Zviedris

Ezri Konsa had two solid games at centre-back, and was unlucky not to score, outperforming those alongside him - Dan Burn and then Marc Guehi.

Debutant Burn, 32, looked comfortable in the first half but was caught out a couple of times in the second half against Albania - and Guehi was involved in both of Latvia's first-half chances.

"Those sort of games will give Konsa confidence. Two more games under the belt - for momentum, feeling at home in the squad, intangible stuff for an international footballer," said Green.

"While they [Burn and Guehi] didn't look as assured as Konsa, they didn't do themselves any harm over the two games."

On Newcastle's 6ft 7in Burn, who hit the bar against Albania, Green said: "Going into tournament football maybe a big thing is you can throw him on. He's a different option to when you're playing against stronger opposition and might go to a back three.

"He can add something to corners, a huge part of England's success at tournaments."

'I don't think any of them staked a claim' - wingers fail to shine

Marcus Rashford started both games on England's left wing

Tuchel likes proper wingers who can get down the line and get crosses in. He will not have seen enough in these two games to convince him he has found his man.

The German will be keen to get Arsenal's Bukayo Saka - who he spoke to after the game - and Chelsea's Cole Palmer back from injury.

Manchester City's Phil Foden - who likes to play in the middle - struggled in the system against Albania - and was replaced by West Ham's Jarrod Bowen for the second game.

Bowen shot off target a couple of times and created a handful of chances on the right, but again did not set the world alight.

Marcus Rashford started on the left side for both games. He put 11 crosses into the box against Latvia, and created six chances - but lost the ball 36 times across both matches - far more than anyone else.

"Marcus again showed the hunger and desire to go again and again," said Tuchel. "He wasn't sure to take the dribbling. The most important thing was he showed the hunger and confidence in his ability.

"We maybe lacked a little bit of the support. They switched sides in the second half but it didn't suit him so well. These are the things we need to learn and take away from these matches. We didn't play into his hand."

Eze took his chance when he replaced Bowen just after the hour-mark against Latvia. He cut in from the left before slamming England's third goal home via a deflection.

"I'm over the moon for him," said Eze's Crystal Palace team-mate Guehi. "Every time he's come on, he's created things. I'm glad it was on target and they gave it to him [and not as an own goal]."

He was set up by Foden, who came on in his central role he relishes.

"You're asking for people to stake a claim and I don't think any of them did in a major sense," said Green.

"Eze really provided a point of difference as opposed to what was on the pitch.

"Bowen didn't really get the opportunities out there he'd hope to have. Rashford didn't have the opportunities to come in on his right foot. Stepping onto his left foot he hasn't got that quality or confidence.

"It's a tough one for wingers but you're expecting it with the shape of Latvia."

Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon would have hoped to start against Latvia, but he was ruled out of the second game through injury.

"Gordon is a big one, he brings something different, the ability to drive forward," said Green.

In the middle, Harry Kane scored in both games to extend his England record to 71 goals. Having excelled under Tuchel at Bayern Munich together, there are no doubts about his place in the team.

'You can come back and have another go' - the central players

Morgan Rogers caused Latvia problems on his first England start

Another place where Tuchel tried different things out was through the middle.

Rice, another guarantee on the teamsheet, started both games in his number six role - and set up both of Kane's goals.

Liverpool's Curtis Jones started alongside him in the first game but was replaced by Morgan Rogers against Latvia.

Rogers, making his first England start, played further forward, alongside Jude Bellingham - whose assist for Lewis-Skelly in the first game was wonderful.

Villa's Rogers had his moments against Latvia, with six shots, succeeding with six of his seven dribbles and winning eight of his 12 duels.

He ended up on the right wing after England substitutions - where Tuchel thought he did his best work.

"He did good. I'm happy with him in general," said Tuchel. "He deserved to start, in a match where we are so dominant it could suit him more to play from the wings. He felt more freedom when we played him there, there was more space."

Rogers, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live afterwards, said: "Thankfully I got my chance and hopefully I can get many more in the future.

"I'm a bit disappointed I didn't score. I'm not always going to get it right but if I do the right things then good things will come from that."

BBC pundit Green added: "Rogers did well in patches. When the opposition were tired he got a little more space.

"Tuchel will look at it and say there's something there. He's probably seen enough to say you can come back and have another go. It's been a positive night for him."

'Nip it in the bud' - Pickford still number one

Jordan Pickford only touched the ball 11 times on Monday

Everton's Jordan Pickford has been England's number one goalkeeper since 2018.

There had been rumours Tuchel was considering benching him on Friday - but that did not happen in the end.

He only had one save to make across either game - although a mix-up with Guehi did allow Latvia one golden opportunity which they missed.

The 31-year-old won his 75th cap against Latvia.

"As a statement it's good for Tuchel to say he's my number one, nip it in the bud," said Green, who played for England in the 2010 World Cup.

"Pickford doesn't get injured. He plays every game for Everton and England. As soon as anyone else plays there's always a question mark maybe he's not number one. If he does what he does for England I'm OK with it."

Dean Henderson and James Trafford remained unused substitutes, with Aaron Ramsdale left out of the matchday squad for each one.