England completed 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.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several changes in Tirana, with qualification for next summer’s tournament already assured. The lineup saw seven alterations from the previous match, including the notable decision to start Jude Bellingham instead of Morgan Rogers.
Albania, still in contention for the play-offs, posed a tough challenge early on, forcing England to wait over 30 minutes for their first significant opportunity, which came from Jarrod Bowen’s shot redirected for a corner.
Although England had not conceded a goal in their previous seven matches, Albania managed to create chances, with Dean Henderson making two crucial saves.
With less than 20 minutes remaining and the home crowd growing hopeful, Harry Kane capitalized on a Bukayo Saka corner to break the deadlock. 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 qualifying campaign that saw not only eight wins but also eight clean sheets.
Mirror Sport’s Chief Football Writer John Cross provided player ratings after the match in Albania. Noteworthy performances included Henderson’s crucial saves and tackle, Bellingham’s outstanding work rate, and Kane’s clinical finishing.
Substitutions during the game included Foden, Saka, Anderson, Rashford, and Rogers, offering fresh legs and tactical changes. Kane stood out as the Man of the Match, setting records and leading England to another successful outing.