England concluded their flawless World Cup qualifying campaign 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, manager Thomas Tuchel made significant lineup changes with the team already qualified for next summer’s tournament. Notably, Jude Bellingham replaced Morgan Rogers in the starting lineup among seven alterations from the previous match against Serbia.
Despite Albania’s playoff aspirations, they posed a tough challenge early on, forcing England to wait over 30 minutes for a clear scoring opportunity. The Albanian team managed to test England’s defense, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson making two crucial saves.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, Harry Kane broke the deadlock by converting a Bukayo Saka corner, boosting England’s confidence. Kane sealed the victory with a second header, marking his 78th goal for the national team.
England heads to the World Cup following a flawless qualifying run, securing eight wins and maintaining clean sheets in all eight matches.
Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross, present in Albania, assessed the performance of the England players following another successful outing.
– Dean Henderson displayed solid goalkeeping skills and earned a rating of 7.
– Jarell Quansah, making his England debut, struggled at right back and received a rating of 5.
– John Stones stood out as England’s top defender, showcasing versatility in defense and midfield, earning a rating of 7.
– Dan Burn’s performance was criticized for poor passing despite his aerial threat, resulting in a rating of 6.
– Nico O’Reilly impressed with his defensive contributions and received a rating of 7.
– Adam Wharton, making his first start, showed glimpses of quality but was booked, receiving a rating of 6.
– Jude Bellingham was outstanding with his work rate and quality, earning a rating of 8 as England’s standout player.
– Declan Rice’s work rate was commendable but he faded in the second half, earning a rating of 7.
– Jarrod Bowen put in a solid effort and came close to scoring, receiving a rating of 7.
– Eberechi Eze missed a scoring opportunity but was subdued on the left flank, earning a rating of 6.
– Harry Kane, England’s captain, delivered an exceptional performance by scoring crucial goals, earning a rating of 8.
Substitutes:
– Foden, Saka, Anderson, Rashford, and Rogers were brought on during the match to make an impact.
– The bench also included Pickford, Trafford, James, Chalobah, J Henderson, Spence, and Scott.
Harry Kane was named the Man of the Match for his record-breaking performance and pivotal goals in the match.