England finished their flawless World Cup qualifying run with a hard-earned 2-0 victory against Albania. Harry Kane netted two goals in the second half as the Three Lions secured their eighth win in as many matches.
In Tirana, Thomas Tuchel made several changes with England’s spot in the upcoming tournament already secured. Notably, Jude Bellingham replaced Morgan Rogers in the starting lineup, among seven alterations from the previous game against Serbia.
Although Albania was vying for a playoff spot, they posed a tough challenge in the initial stages. It took over 30 minutes for England to create a notable scoring opportunity, with Jarrod Bowen’s shot deflected for a corner.
Despite not conceding in their first seven games, England faced some threats from Albania, leading to goalkeeper Dean Henderson making two crucial saves. However, with less than 20 minutes remaining, Harry Kane capitalized on a Bukayo Saka corner to break the deadlock. Kane then sealed the win with a header, marking his 78th goal for the national team.
England heads to the World Cup following a qualifying campaign that included not only eight wins but also eight clean sheets. Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross assessed the England players’ performances after yet another triumph.
Player ratings:
– Dean Henderson: 7 – Impressive saves and a crucial tackle, solidifying his position as the next in line after Pickford.
– Jarell Quansah: 5 – Made his England debut but seemed uncomfortable playing out of position.
– John Stones: 7 – Stood out as one of England’s top defenders, showcasing versatility by playing in midfield.
– Dan Burn: 6 – Lacked precision on the ball, relying more on his height as a threat.
– Nico O’Reilly: 7 – Demonstrated defensive prowess with well-timed tackles and determined efforts.
– Adam Wharton: 6 – Received a booking but showed glimpses of quality in his first start.
– Jude Bellingham: 8 – Outstanding performance, showcasing exceptional work rate and quality, proving his value to the team.
– Declan Rice: 7 – Put in a tireless effort but faded in the second half.
– Jarrod Bowen: 7 – Consistent work rate and nearly found the net with his efforts.
– Eberechi Eze: 6 – Missed a scoring opportunity but was limited on the left side.
– Harry Kane: 8 – Led by example with two crucial goals, emphasizing his role as England’s main goal scorer.
Substitutions:
– Foden replaced Rice at 63 mins: Rating 7
– Saka replaced Eze at 63 mins: Rating 7
– Anderson replaced Wharton at 75 mins
– Rashford replaced Bowen at 75 mins
– Rogers replaced Bellingham at 84 mins
Additional subs: 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.
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