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 as the Three Lions secured their eighth consecutive win.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several changes in Tirana, with qualification already sealed for next summer’s tournament. The team saw seven alterations from their previous match, notably Jude Bellingham starting in place of Morgan Rogers.
Albania, still vying for a spot in the playoffs, posed a tough challenge early on, forcing England to wait over 30 minutes for their first significant opportunity, eventually resulting in a corner after a Jarrod Bowen shot.
Despite not conceding in their previous seven matches, England faced some threats from Albania, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson making two crucial saves.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and the home crowd gaining hope, Harry Kane capitalized on a Bukayo Saka corner to score. Kane then secured the victory with a second header, marking his 78th goal for the national team.
England heads to the World Cup after a qualifying campaign that not only saw eight wins but also eight clean sheets.
Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross, present in Albania, provided player ratings following yet another successful performance.
– Dean Henderson: 7 – Impressive saves and a crucial tackle. Establishing himself as the next in line after Pickford.
– Jarell Quansah: 5 – Made his England debut but seemed uncomfortable as a right-back.
– John Stones: 7 – Stood out as one of England’s top defenders and players, displaying versatility in midfield.
– Dan Burn: 6 – Lacked precision in passing despite posing a threat with his height.
– Nico O’Reilly: 7 – Demonstrated defensive skills with solid tracking and determined defending.
– Adam Wharton: 6 – Received a booking but showed moments of quality in his first start.
– Jude Bellingham: 8 – Outstanding performance, showcasing exceptional work rate and quality, proving to be England’s X Factor.
– Declan Rice: 7 – Worked tirelessly but fatigued in the second half.
– Jarrod Bowen: 7 – Consistent effort and nearly found the net.
– Eberechi Eze: 6 – Denied a goal by a fine save, appearing subdued on the left.
– Harry Kane: 8 – Stellar performance as England’s Captain Marvel, fulfilling his role as a goal scorer.
Substitutes:
– Foden: Replaced Rice at 63 minutes, rating of 7.
– Saka: Substituted Eze at 63 minutes, rating of 7.
– Anderson: Replaced Wharton at 75 minutes.
– Rashford: Substituted Bowen at 75 minutes.
– Rogers: Came on for Bellingham at 84 minutes.
Man of the match: Harry Kane – Setting records, scoring goals, and delivering a perfect performance.
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