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Published 21 March 2025 5 min read
England Men's Senior Team

Match Centre: England 2-0 Albania

Written by:

Mohamed Hamza

  • M. Lewis-Skelly (20′)
  • H. Kane (77′)
European Qualifiers - FIFA 2026 World Cup Group K
Friday 21 March, 07:45 PM Wembley Stadium
The England men's logo
2 0
HT: 1 - 0
Albania
  • B. Djimsiti (32′)

Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge of the Three Lions ends in victory as England start their World Cup qualifying campaign at Wembley

23 Mar 2025 3:32

Highlights: England 2-0 Albania


Watch the best of the action from Wembley as the Three Lions kick-off their World Cup qualifiers with a win

Myles Lewis-Skelly found the back of the net on his Three Lions debut
Myles Lewis-Skelly found the back of the net on his Three Lions debut
Goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane saw England usher in the Thomas Tuchel era with a 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley.

The Three Lions roared out in front after 20 minutes when Jude Bellingham found a surging Lewis-Skelly with a delightful ball which the debutant slid home to open his England account in style.

Kane then doubled the lead in the 77th minute when he brought down Declan Rice’s lofted ball before firing home to get England's World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start.

The Three Lions set their stall out early, testing the Albanian backline with a succession of balls in behind, with Marcus Rashford and Lewis-Skelly the targets down the left-hand side.
It was the Arsenal man at the centre of attention for England’s goal, racing onto Bellingham’s brilliantly weighted pass before firing past an onrushing Thomas Strakosha.

That seemed to rouse Albania, with England forced into evasive action immediately after the restart, with another of the night's debutants Dan Burn heading clear before Jordan Pickford tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.

The resulting set-piece was comfortably dealt with by the Three Lions’ rearguard, with Kane at hand to avert any immediate danger.

Down at the other end of the pitch, England almost extended their lead when Bellingham was put through on goal, only to be denied by Strakosha before Kane's follow-up was deflected away.
Newcastle defender Dan Burn returned to the scene of the Carabao Cup final to make his England debut
Newcastle defender Dan Burn returned to the scene of the Carabao Cup final to make his England debut
The hosts were clearly enjoying themselves and came close once more, when Burn headed the ball onto the bar from a corner to close out the first half.

The restart saw England pick up where they left off, with Kane heading wide after Bellingham won the ball high up the pitch.

Moments later, the England captain looked to open his own account when he sought to latch onto Phil Foden’s delivery from out wide, but Kane was only able to watch Strakosha smother the ball away.

Having weathered the storm, Albania looked to strike back when substitute Armando Broja bore down on goal, only for the ball to run into Pickford’s path.
On his return to the England squad, Marcus Rashford started the game against Albania
On his return to the England squad, Marcus Rashford started the game against Albania
Albania had grown into the game and came close to levelling the scores when Jasir Asani outpaced Burn to latch onto a lofted ball, only for Ezri Konsa to come to England’s rescue with a perfectly-timed interception to delight the Wembley crowd.

Despite their newfound attacking intent, the wind was taken out of the visitors’ sails just moments later when Kane expertly controlled Rice’s ball, before he rifled the ball into the net to ensure a winning start for Tuchel’s England.

Match Line Up

England: 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton) 2 Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City) 4 Declan Rice (Arsenal) 5 Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) 7 Phil Foden (Manchester City) 9 Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) 10 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) 11 Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United) 12 Dan Burn (Newcastle United) 17 Curtis Jones (Liverpool) 23 Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)

Substitutes: 16 Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) for Jones 74', 18 Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) for Rashford 74', 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) for Foden 75', 8 Jordan Henderson (Ajax) for Rice 82', 3 Reece James (Chelsea) for Lewis-Skelly 91'

Subs not used: 13 Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace) 22 James Trafford (Burnley) 6 Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) 14 Levi Colwill (Chelsea) 15 Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) 19 Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur) 21 Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)

Goals: Lewis-Skelly 20', Kane 77'

Head coach: Thomas Tuchel

Albania: 1 Thomas Strakosha 2 Iván Balliu 3 Naser Aliji 5 Arlind Ajeti 6 Berat Djimsiti 8 Kristjan Asllani 9 Jasir Asani 10 Nedim Bajrami 11 Myrto Uzuni 14 Qazim Laçi 20 Yiber Ramadani

Substitutes: 22 Armando Broja for Bajrami 63', 21 Arbër Hoxha for Asani 78', 19 Adrion Pajaziti for Laçi 79', 12 Elhan Kastrati for Strakosha 82'

Subs not used: 23 Alen Sherri 4 Juljan Shehu 7 Rey Manaj 13 Enea Mihaj 15 Marash Kumbulla 16 Medon Berisha 17 Ernest Muçi 18 Ardian Ismajli 22 Armando Broja

Head coach: Sylvinho
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