By Samuel A. March 22, 2025
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane were both on the scoresheet on Friday night to give new England boss Thomas Tuchel a winning start with a 2-0 victory against Albania at Wembley in their opening World Cup qualifier. Lewis-Skelly cooled any early nerves with an ice-cold finish just 20 minutes in, becoming England’s youngest-ever goal scoring debutant after his first cap in his first call up to the country’s senior team.
Captain Kane then made sure of victory with a fine touch and an even finer finish late on in the second half. Their goals gave England three points in Group K of World Cup qualifying.
Bellingham, who put the young goalscorer through, was seemingly involved in all of England’s good play, and also came close when he stooped to head home a Walker cross. While it was saved, the bigger chance fell to Kane who saw his follow up blocked in the area.
England limited Albania to very little in the first period, as they were in control of the game from start to finish, with the visitors’ only real opportunity gifted to them as Jordan Pickford and Burn unconvincingly cleared a hopeful lofted ball that landed on the bar. They also started the second half strongly, as Kane came close when he glanced a header wide from a Rashford cross. However, Kane’s 70th England goal in the 77th minute was enough to pierce any growing Albanian ambition.
England boss Thomas Tuchel: “It was exciting. A bit nervous before. It was a fantastic evening, perfect evening and temperature to play football. We had a good week ahead of the match and a great experience. We wanted to increase the rhythm and the risks in the second half, have one more player in the defensive line. But we were not disciplined enough in the structure. It slowed our game down, not so well organised to control counter-attacks. The second goal, the game was over. It’s a difficult opponent, unorthodox style. We saw them in the form of the Euros, where Spain, Croatia and Italy struggled in the group stage. We saw this opponent today. Hopefully, it gives us confidence to get better.” Tuchel has shown enough signs of improvement, even after one game, to make himself feel at home, and the big question is whether he can bring football there.
