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Match Coverage

Game On – Declan Rice passes it back to Dean Henderson to launch upfield and the game is on.

Two singers of smartly dressed blokes with microphones lead us in renditions of the two national anthems. Stylish.

Djimsiti and Kane head out with their pennants. Kick-off in the English team’s final match of 2025 is imminent.

Played 7, won 7, conceded 0. Smooth sailing for the English side so far in qualifying. Beyond this qualifying group, they’ve now kept 9 straight shutouts in competitive fixtures – only two teams have done that in European football previously.

The Spanish national team are the sole other team in European qualification yet to let in a goal. For reference, the Liechtenstein team are the sole side yet to score.

Squad News

Bellingham is one of 7 changes to the English team that defeated Serbia on the previous matchday. Adam Wharton earns his first senior start in the middle of the park together with Jude and Declan Rice.

Henderson takes over from Pickford in the net, while Quansah earns his first cap at full-back, with Dan Burn partnering Stones in the centre of the backline.

Eze and Bowen play on the wings of Harry Kane in the forward line. Alex Scott could earn his first appearance as a substitute.

Confirmed Starting XIs

Albania (Four-three-three): Thomas Strakosha; Hysaj, Ardit Ismajli, Djimsiti, Aliji; Qazim Laci, Kristjan Asllani, Ylber Ramadani; Bajrami, Uzuni, Sokol Hoxha.

England (Four-three-three): Dean Henderson; Quansah, John Stones, Dan Burn, Festus O’Reilly; Rice, Adam Wharton, Bellingham; Bowen, Harry Kane, Eze.

Match Preview

Well, you could label this a meaningless match. The English squad secured their spot at next summer’s World Cup a full 30 days ago. Albania themselves clinched a spot in March’s qualifying playoffs with a victory against the Andorran side on the previous matchday.

However with the World Cup only seven months away and a handful of matches to go, there is no such thing as a meaningless fixture for the England footballers looking to persuade Thomas Tuchel that they deserve a spot on his flight to the USA/Canada/Mexico. Even the likes of Bellingham and Phil Foden can be sure of a position in the team until it is announced in May.

England have triumphed on all three of their prior trips to Tirana, the most recent being a two-nil victory under Gareth Southgate on the path to securing qualification for the 2022 finals. It was lockdown. Mason Mount scored. Kalvin Phillips was in the engine room. Jesse Lingard was a substitute. Those certainly were another era.

It’s a 5pm (GMT) kick-off today at the national stadium. I’d love to receive your opinions on how England have performed in this year under Tuchel, how you anticipate them to fare at the finals and who you think ought to – or ought not – be on that plane. Perspectives from Albanian supporters are also welcome.