Jarrod Bowen endured a tough outing for England in their 3-0 win over Latvia, facing both physical challenges and criticism for his performance. The West Ham winger, who was given a rare start by manager Thomas Tuchel, worked tirelessly but struggled to make a significant impact. Bowen was the most fouled player on the pitch, enduring several heavy challenges, including a contentious incident where he was denied a clear penalty after being taken down by Latvia’s goalkeeper.
Despite his effort, Bowen was substituted before the hour mark, and his replacement, Eberechi Eze, quickly made an impact by scoring a fine solo goal. Declan Rice, Bowen’s former West Ham teammate, also contributed by setting up Harry Kane for England’s third goal from Bowen’s usual position on the right.
The media’s assessment of Bowen’s performance was largely critical, with some outlets labeling it a missed opportunity. The BBC and The Telegraph both rated him 5/10, the lowest among England’s players, with the BBC noting his effort but lack of end product. The Telegraph even claimed Marcus Rashford was more dangerous than Bowen during the match. Other outlets, such as The Guardian and The Daily Mail, offered slightly more balanced views, awarding him 6/10 and acknowledging his link-up play with Reece James, though they also noted his struggles against Latvia’s packed defense.
Despite the mixed reviews, some outlets, like One Football, were more lenient, giving Bowen a 7/10 and praising his involvement compared to Phil Foden in the previous game. However, the consensus was that Bowen failed to fully seize his chance to impress Tuchel in a competitive area of the pitch where England have numerous options.
Bowen will now return to West Ham, where he is highly valued, to recover and prepare for upcoming Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Bournemouth.