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11 min: Bellingham drops a shoulder as he advances down the inside-left channel, and suddenly England make ground into that final third. He tries a one-two with Rashford but it doesn’t quite come off. For a second, that looked promising.
9 min: This is all England in terms of possession – indeed Albania have hardly had a touch – but the visitors are holding their hosts at arm’s length so far. Nothing happening in the final third. Wembley has fallen a tad quiet as a result.
7 min: Walker goes dribbling down the right and tries to nip between a couple of black-and-red shirts. He falls over and expects a free kick, but he’s not getting one. Throw to Albania. Walker briefly considers engaging the linesman in a philosophical back-and-forth, but then thinks better of it.
5 min: Konsa loops a pass down the middle and nearly finds Bellingham on the penalty spot. Ajeti extends a leg to trap and clear, though he needs two swipes of that leg to complete the first part of that defensive action. For a second, it looked as though he’d present Bellingham with a big chance, but no.
3 min: Albania sit back in a low block. Rice is seeing a lot of the ball during these early exchanges, prompting this way and that.
2 min: England quickly snaffle possession and pass it around the back awhile. Everyone finding their feet.
Albania get the ball rolling. This is England’s 20th World Cup qualifier in the new Wembley, and they’ve yet to lose one, or fail to score in one.
A minute to remember 1966 World Cup squad member George Eastham, who passed in December. The warmest applause for one of the greats.
The teams are out! England in white, Albania black and red. We’ll be off once the national anthems are sung, or not sung, enjoyed or endured, whatever folk choose, however they see it, live and let live.
Thomas Tuchel talks to ITV. “Big occasion … I’m a bit nervous … but more excited … happy to get the journey going … it was a very simple decision to bring [Dan Burn into the squad] … he had a huge final and impact here some days ago … we did not want to disturb his wave … he is on a good run … it could have been Levi Colwill but we opted for Dan … I can absolutely understand how everyone loves [Myles Lewis-Skelly] … a big personality … a big character … he is ready to go … [Marcus Rashford] is a calm guy … we got some smiles out of him … he enjoys being back in camp … Anthony Gordon comes off the back of a red card and some missed games so it was a close race … bring the energy … we play on the front foot … aggressive and attacking … don’t lose the intensity … they have good football players … we need to be aware but we are ready to go.”
England fans welcome their side’s new head coach Thomas Tuchel. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
Albania assistant coach Pablo Zabaleta, once of Manchester City and West Ham, speaks to ITV. “It’s great to be back in England, that’s for sure … we expect a very difficult match … they have a new coach … new players … new ideas … we focus … we are positive … play with belief … we have a good team … we are organised and don’t concede much at the back … we can have some chances … it’s going to be tough but we need to be positive.”
… but now I come to think about it, it’s probably more relevant to relive the last time England met Albania, isn’t it. Here’s how they fared home and away during the qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup.
Albania 0-2 England: World Cup qualifying Group I – as it happened
England 5-0 Albania: World Cup qualifying – as it happened
Retro MBM department. Walker’s first game for England was against then-world-champions Spain in 2011. Fancy reliving that one? A game decided by Frank Lampard’s second-half header from three inches out? No? OK, but the option’s there to click below if you change your mind.
England v Spain – as it happened | Scott Murray
The Albanian fans are enjoying themselves outside the stadium. Photographs: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Kyle Walker – who made his debut under Fabio Capello and has subsequently played for Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce, Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley – talks to ITV. “It’s been good … it’s exciting … a new era … I fully enjoyed it under Gareth Southgate … many great memories … turn the page and start again … Tuchel wants a high-intensity game … energy … being smart as well … we don’t want it to be 6-6 … we want to win at the end of the day.”
Thomas Tuchel begins his reign as England manager by handing out two new caps. Man-of-the-moment Dan Burn, a scorer at Wembley five days ago as Newcastle slaked their 70-year domestic thirst, and Arsenal prodigy Myles Lewis-Skelly are the debutants. Marcus Rashford makes his first start for England since facing Malta in November 2023.
Albania are captained by Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti. Kristjan Asllani of Internazionale and Rangers winger Nedim Bajrami also start. Armando Broja, currently on loan at Everton, is on the bench. Their manager Sylvinho, formerly of Arsenal and Manchester City, played at the old Wembley for Brazil in a 1-1 draw in 2000, and was assistant boss of the Seleção at the new Wembley in 2017, when England and Brazil played out a goalless draw.
England: Pickford, Walker, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Jones, Foden, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane.
Subs: Dean Henderson, Trafford, James, Guehi, Jordan Henderson, Colwill, Eze, Rogers, Gordon, Solanke, Bowen, Livramento.
Albania: Strakosha, Balliu, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Aliji, Laci, Ramadani, Asllani, Asani, Uzuni, Nedim Bajrami.
Subs: Kastrati, Sherri, Shehu, Manaj, Mihaj, Kumbulla, Medon Berisha, Muci, Ismajli, Pajaziti, Hoxha, Broja.
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain).
It’s the start of England’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup. It’s the first game of the Thomas Tuchel era. It’s a showdown with Albania, who are zero-and-six against the Three Lions, England having rattled up an historical aggregate score of 19-1. On balance, then, this is intriguing rather than exciting, though it’ll be quite the story should the Kuqezinjtë – the Red and Blacks – break precedent and steal away from Wembley with a point or more. It’s number four in the Fifa rankings versus number 65. It should be a home banker. It kicks off at 7.45pm GMT. And it’s on.
