England concluded their flawless World Cup qualifying run with a hard-earned 2-0 victory against Albania. Harry Kane netted two goals in the second half, securing the win for the Three Lions, who maintained a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several changes in Tirana, already having secured qualification for next summer’s tournament. Notably, Jude Bellingham started in place of Morgan Rogers, among seven alterations from the previous match against Serbia.
Albania, still in contention for the playoffs, posed a tough challenge in the early stages, with England’s first significant opportunity coming after over 30 minutes when Jarrod Bowen’s shot was deflected for a corner.
Despite not conceding in their initial seven matches, England faced threats from Albania, requiring goalkeeper Dean Henderson to make two crucial saves.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, Harry Kane capitalized on a Bukayo Saka corner to score the opening goal, boosting England’s confidence. Kane then 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 campaign that included not only eight victories but also eight clean sheets.
Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross, present in Albania, provided player ratings for the England squad following another successful performance.
– Dean Henderson 7: Impressive saves and a crucial tackle, solidifying his position as the next in line behind Pickford.
– Jarell Quansah 5: Made his England debut but appeared uncomfortable playing as a right-back.
– John Stones 7: Stood out as England’s top defender and one of the standout players, demonstrating versatility by covering in midfield.
– Dan Burn 6: Lacked proficiency on the ball despite being a threat due to his height, with passing accuracy needing improvement.
– Nico O’Reilly 7: Showed defensive prowess with effective tracking back and determined defending.
– Adam Wharton 6: Received a booking, displayed moments of quality in his first start, delivering a decent performance.
– Jude Bellingham 8: Outstanding work ethic, high-quality play, and justified his selection, serving as England’s X Factor.
– Declan Rice 7: Covered extensive ground but faded in the second half due to exhaustive efforts.
– Jarrod Bowen 7: Consistently hardworking and impressive whenever given the opportunity, coming close to scoring.
– Eberechi Eze 6: Denied a goal by a fine save, struggled playing on the left wing, appearing subdued.
– Harry Kane 8: England’s leading goal scorer and captain, fulfilling his role with precision and effectiveness.
Substitutions:
– Foden, for Rice, 63 mins, 7
– Saka, for Eze, 63 mins, 7
– Anderson, for Wharton, 75 mins
– Rashford, for Bowen, 75 mins
– Rogers, for Bellingham, 84 mins
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 leading England to a perfect victory.
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