England completed their flawless World Cup qualifying run by securing a hard-earned 2-0 victory against Albania. Harry Kane netted two goals in the second half as the Three Lions maintained a perfect record of eight wins in eight matches.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made significant changes in Tirana, with seven players brought into the starting lineup after England had already secured qualification for the upcoming tournament. Jude Bellingham notably replaced Morgan Rogers in the starting eleven.
Albania, still vying for a playoff spot, presented a tough challenge early on, forcing England to wait over 30 minutes for their first clear opportunity, which came from Jarrod Bowen’s shot redirected for a corner.
Despite England not conceding a goal in their previous seven matches, Albania managed to create chances, testing goalkeeper Dean Henderson with two notable saves.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and the home crowd growing hopeful, Harry Kane capitalized on a Bukayo Saka corner to break the deadlock. Kane then sealed the win with a second header, marking his 78th international goal.
England heads to the World Cup following a qualifying campaign that featured not only eight wins but also eight clean sheets.
Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross, present at the match in Albania, provided player ratings following another successful English victory.
– Dean Henderson: 7 – Impressive saves and a crucial tackle. Firmly establishing himself as the backup to Pickford.
– Jarell Quansah: 5 – Made his England debut but appeared uncomfortable playing out of position at right back.
– John Stones: 7 – Stood out as one of England’s top defenders and players, displaying versatility by providing cover in midfield.
– Dan Burn: 6 – Lacked precision on the ball despite posing a threat with his height.
– Nico O’Reilly: 7 – Demonstrated defensive capabilities with solid tracking and determined defending.
– Adam Wharton: 6 – Received a booking but showed glimpses of quality in his first start.
– Jude Bellingham: 8 – Remarkable work rate and quality performance, proving to be a key asset for England.
– Declan Rice: 7 – Put in a tireless effort but visibly faded in the second half.
– Jarrod Bowen: 7 – Consistently industrious and nearly found the back of the net.
– Eberechi Eze: 6 – Denied by a fine save and struggled to make an impact from the left flank.
– Harry Kane: 8 – England’s reliable goal-scorer and influential captain.
Substitutions:
– Foden replaced Rice in the 63rd minute and received a rating of 7.
– Saka replaced Eze in the 63rd minute and also earned a rating of 7.
– Anderson came on for Wharton in the 75th minute.
– Rashford was substituted for Bowen in the 75th minute.
– Rogers replaced Bellingham in the 84th minute.
Additional Substitutes: Pickford, Trafford, James, Chalobah, Saka, J Henderson, Rashford, Spence, Rogers, Foden, Anderson, Scott.
Man of the Match: Harry Kane – Setting records, scoring goals, and delivering a flawless performance throughout the game.