Albania 0-2 England
by Layth Yousif 
at the Arena Kombetare in Tirana 

TWO second-half goals from Harry Kane eased England to victory against a lively Albanian team to end a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday evening, with eight wins from eight, and a whopping 24 points out of 24. 

Thomas Tuchel’s impressive side also made it 22 goals scored, with zero conceded in the final standings in Group K, in front of 21,459 supporters including around 2,000 travelling fans, at the impressive Arena Kombetare in the heart of Tirana.

Tuchel, who is not afraid to make contentious decisions, also reinstated Jude Bellingham for his first start since England’s 3-1 defeat by Senegal in June. The head coach making seven changes in total from the 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley on Thursday evening. Tuchel also gave Jarell Quansah his debut, to become the seventh player to be handed a senior bow by the manager in only his tenth game in charge. While Nico O’Reilly made only his second appearance.

Declan Rice started for England, as did Arsenal teammate Eberechi Eze, but Bukayo Saka remained on the bench until making an entrance just after the hour mark for his underwhelming club colleague on the night, with Tuchel hinting as much during his Saturday evening pre-match press conference in the heart of this compelling capital.

For their part Sylvinho’s Albania came into the clash in good form, winning their last five matches in all competitions, and are unbeaten in eight matches, with their last defeat (2-0) coming against England back in March.

Given the seven changes it was unsurprising England made a disjointed start, despite the fact Rice tested former Brentford keeper Thomas Strakosha in the fourth minute. The chance came after Jarrod Bowen’s deflected cross, as the 25-year-old Gunners midfielder neatly chested the ball before firing at the Albanian keeper.

As Sylvinho’s Shqiperia — meaning Land of Eagles — found their rhythm, buoyed on by a passionate home support, Albania’s Lazio defender Elseid Hysaj powered forward to unleash a long-range effort that flew narrowly over Dean Henderson’s bar on 18 minutes.

The situation was illuminated moments before when Bellingham’s magnificent defensive hard yards closed down Arber Hoxha, before the Real Madrid midfielder slid into an emphatic tackle to block the Dynamo Zagreb left-winger, dispossessing the 27-year-old just as he was about to shoot.

On 36 minutes the lively Bowen drilled a low shot at Strakosha, who kept the ball out, following a sweeping move upfield prompted by Bellingham’s surge forward. The former Bees net minder then gathering safely from Quansah’s header as the game reached the interval goalless.

Albania started the second half the brighter side, with substitute Ivan Balliu sprinting forward to supplement an attack from full-back on 47 minutes. His low cross was audaciously flicked on from close range by Qazim Laci, but Henderson was alert to save what would have been a cheeky but thrilling goal.

Three minutes later the lively Hoxha — no relation to the country’s Marxist leader Enver — drove forward as the England defence backpedalled after capitalising on a sloppy ball from big Dan Burn. As space opened up the Zagreb attacker curled an excellent effort that a scampering Henderson managed to stop.

Sixty seconds later Albania pushed forward with Nedim Bajrami the catalyst, prior to playing an intelligent ball to Hoxha. From 15 yards out, the 27-year-old who started his career in nearby Kosovo, shot straight at Henderson.

As the game opened up, Strakosha saved from Eze at the near post shortly afterwards. The Arsenal attacker should have done better after being fed by a perceptive ball from Bellingham, with as much bend required as his superb late curled goal in the 2-0 win against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday.

It was to be former Arsenal academy pupil Eze’s last contribution. The 27-year-old sadly unable to build on his promising cameo from the bench against Serbia, to make way for Hale End graduate and teammate Saka — even if Eze’s three goals in qualifying made him England’s second top scorer during the successful campaign. 

Yet it was Saka who could and should have crowned a glorious backheel flick from the impetuous teenager O’Reilly that lifted over the heads of the Albanian defence and into the path of the Arsenal attacker. Unfortunately, the normally clinical Saka failed to make a true contact on the ball, and the chance failed to be taken.

However, England finally went ahead with 16 minutes remaining when Kane steered the ball home from close range from Saka’s corner to make it 1-0 to England. 

The winner being his 77th England goal to equal the great Pele’s international goals record. 

The set piece was something for Tuchel to embrace. Speaking after the match, he said: “Of course we are relying on [goals from set pieces.]

“The best teams in the Premier League do it. At the moment Arsenal is the benchmark in set pieces and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Against deep blocks, against teams who are well drilled … you open it up with a set piece goal.”

Worse was to come for Albania when the efficient Kane’s 78th international goal followed to double the visitors lead eight minutes later to make it 2-0 to make it sixth career goal against Albania — more than any other team during his 112 caps to date.

As the clock ticked down and the game won, Bellingham was replaced by Morgan Rogers — but appeared annoyed at being hooked. 

Tuchel was not impressed with the flicker of petulance, adding afterwards that Bellingham “has to accept the decision.

“His friend [Rogers] is waiting on the sideline, so you need to accept it, respect it, and keep on going.

“My word stands, we are about standards and level, and commitment and respect to each other.

“We will not change our decision just because someone is waving their arms.”

Next up for England is the anticipation of the World Cup draw next month, before two March friendlies, set to be against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.