Jarrod Bowen only played around 50 minutes in England’s two World Cup qualifiers this month but, according to Micah Richards, the West Ham United captain still epitomised what Thomas Tuchel is trying to achieve with the Three Lions.
Suddenly, things are looking a whole lot more positive in the England camp.
A sluggish start and that stunning home defeat by Senegal – Malick Diouf earned himself a move to West Ham with the way he shut down Bukayo Saka that night in Nottingham – may have had even the most anti-Gareth Southgaters wondering if the grass really is greener on the other side.
But three wins with an aggregate scoreline of 13-0 suggests that a corner has been turned under Thomas Tuchel at last.
Fortunately for Jarrod Bowen, meanwhile, Tuchel has been won over by the West Ham skipper, albeit belatedly.
Another eye-catching cameo as England secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of Latvia – their second successive five-goal away victory – doesn’t exactly guarantee Bowen a seat on the plane.
But let’s just say he should have his passport at hand.
West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen ‘the perfect example’ in England win
Replacing Saka on the hour mark in Riga’s Daugava Stadium, Bowen provided his first-ever international assist on his 19th cap.
The manner in which he did so, according to former Manchester City, Aston Villa and Fiorentina defender Richards, perfectly summed up the high-pressing principles demanded by England’s Champions League-winning head coach.
“I think watching the game, it’s more the way they press, the high [press]. But it is [also] about how they’re winning the ball back so quickly,” Richards tells the Rest is Football podcast.
“So, once it goes past the first line and then the second line, not even in the mid-block, [they win the ball back] between high and mid-block.
“Everyone’s out [pressing]. And even a perfect example of that was Bowen.”
Bowen sets up Arsenal ace Ebere Eze in Latvia thrashing
England were already 4-0 up in the Latvian capital but their appetite for further goals was yet to be sated. Bowen took full advantage following a loose pass in midfield, snatching possession on the halfway line and setting off on a charge.
After Marcus Rashford darted into an offside position, he instead waited for the run of Ebere Eze down the left-hand side. Feathering a lovely pass into the Arsenal summer signing, Eze waltzed into the box and finished in style.
It is a measure of the fearsome attacking depth at Tuchel’s disposal, meanwhile, that he has the luxury of introducing Bowen, Eze and Rashford while leaving Morgan Gibbs-White on the bench.
“You know what it’s like, you come on as a sub, you win the game and you think the energy could drop. And I think players [often] forget their principles. But they didn’t [against Latvia],” adds Richards, who earned 13 caps between 2006 and 2012.
“Bowen wins a ball, looks like he’s going to play to Rashford, gives the ball to Eze, Eze scores. And I just think that energy in the team is back.”
Thomas Tuchel gives Bowen’s credit to Harry Kane
The only negative for Bowen, on an otherwise joyous night, is that Tuchel appeared to credit his assist to Harry Kane instead.
Fortunately, with the benefit of countless replays and hours of post-match analysis, the former PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach will soon see that it was Bowen who really laid the foundations for Eze’s icing-on-the-cake effort.
“Harry just gave a speech when he said that everyone will be ready to keep this thing going in November, that no-one will step back and take this thing for granted. They feel they’re building something,” Tuchel told BBC Sport at full-time.
“If you just look at the goal in the 85th minute, the goal from Ebs, we have a ball lost and Harry goes all the way back to his own half and puts his head down in another sprint defensively.
“As a captain, as number nine, there is no real need to do this. No-one would ever blame him if he did not do it but he does it and that is the standard and that is the example that he sets and what everyone feels at the moment.
“And that is so brilliant to see as he helps us win the ball and in the end results in the goal from Ebs, a brilliant goal.
“Harry is ready to put in the intensity and the shift that is needed. It is a pleasure to have him. He is in excellent shape physically, mentally, in top form, top shape. So everything is fine.”
