Thomas Tuchel: 'I loved it'

England head coach Thomas Tuchel saw his team make it eight wins from eight games in their FIFA 2027 World Cup qualifying group, with a 2-0 victory over Albania on Sunday evening.

The result brings 2025 to a close for Tuchel’s team, who will now await the World Cup draw in Washington DC on 5 December when they will learn their group stage opponents at the tournament in North America next summer.

A second-half brace from captain Harry Kane proved enough to seal a 100 per cent record in qualifying and Tuchel was happy with the way his team, with seven changes from Thursday’s win over Serbia, handled a difficult game in a red-hot atmosphere in Tirana.

“It was a nice match, I love it,” he said.

“Serbia was difficult, today was difficult, it got emotional.

“We were fully in control and then suddenly lost a bit of control but to overcome some difficult moments and to overcome an atmosphere like this and open the match with a set-piece goal - so much good stuff. The quality to finish the game out, brilliant.

“I could feel that we were invested. I could also feel that it was difficult to break them down, that it needed one little moment - a set-piece or a magical moment to open the match and gain a little in confidence and get in their heads.

“We had to wait but we were non-stop. We gave the signal from the bench with offensive changes that we were here to win and we keep on pushing.”

Tuchel’s changes to the line up saw an England debut for Jarell Quansah in defence while Adam Wharton was given his first start for the Three Lions.

And he thought both players handled the occasion well, even through the tactical changes made in the second half as England looked to push on for the win.

“It is a very strong squad,” he admitted.

“Everyone who starts deserves [to], but to influence games from the bench is a privilege and the guys are fantastic.

“[Adam Wharton] Good, it was not easy because we tried [something] a little bit different in the build-up with John Stones.

“In the second half, we reversed a little bit so he was alone and sometimes a little bit exposed - it's not his fault and overall, he did well.

“I have to say I am very impressed by our debutant Jarell Quansah on his first cap, he played like he had 50 already.

“Well done to all the young guys, Nico O'Reilly also played a fantastic match.”