England vs Albania Game Preview – Qualification Match For World Championship

England’s Recent Struggles and the New Era

While England had a disappointing run last year, losing three games on home soil, Albania has never managed to claim a victory at Wembley. Under Gareth Southgate’s leadership, the Three Lions reached two major finals, narrowly missing out on glory in both. In the 2020 European Championship, they were defeated by Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout, and in 2024, Spain triumphed 2-1 in the final. Just days after that defeat, Southgate stepped down as manager.

Interim coach Lee Carsley led England back to League A in the Nations League, finishing top of their group alongside Greece, although they suffered one defeat at home against Greece.

A New Chapter with Thomas Tuchel

A new era begins for England as Thomas Tuchel takes charge. The German tactician accepted the role in January, becoming the third foreign coach to manage England after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Tuchel’s short-term goal is World Cup qualification, as England has missed out on the prestigious tournament six times. Their most notable World Cup achievement came in 1966 when they lifted the trophy.

With a wealth of talent at his disposal, Tuchel will be looking to guide England back to the top. Among the notable inclusions in his squad are debutants Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn, with Burn fresh off winning his first major trophy, the English League Cup. A surprise return also comes in the form of 35-year-old Jordan Henderson, who missed the 2024 European Championship.

England’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, with 69 goals, is aiming to break yet another record by becoming the most-capped player in England’s history. With 103 caps, he is 22 appearances away from surpassing Peter Shilton.

England Squad for the Match Against Albania:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

Albania’s Challenging Journey

Albania faces another difficult challenge in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In the last campaign, they finished third in their group behind England and Poland. Albania has yet to qualify for a World Cup, although they participated in the European Championships in 2016, where they secured a win against Romania, and in Euro 2024, though they were outclassed by Spain, Italy, and Croatia.

Albania recently parted ways with coach Edoardo Reja, and Sylvinho took over shortly after. The Brazilian coach, formerly of Olympique Lyon and Corinthians, managed to guide Albania to Euro 2024 qualification, finishing top of their group level on points with the Czech Republic. However, Albania’s recent struggles in the Nations League saw them relegated to League C.

Among Albania’s key players is Rey Manaj, who is the team’s top scorer with 8 goals in 39 appearances. Armando Broja, a talented forward formed at Chelsea, is also a key figure despite his struggles to find regular playing time.

Head-to-Head:

The two teams have met six times, with England emerging victorious on every occasion. In their only managerial clash, Tuchel’s PSG defeated Sylvinho’s Lyon 1-0 in Ligue 1 during the 2019-2020 season.

Betting Suggestions:

• England to Win: With a solid squad and home advantage, England is highly favored to win. A bet on England to win by 2-3 goals could provide good value, considering Albania’s defensive struggles.
• Harry Kane to Score Anytime: England’s star striker, Kane, is in sensational form and is always a threat in front of goal. A bet on Harry Kane to score anytime is likely to be profitable.
• Over 2.5 Goals: Given England’s attacking prowess and Albania’s leaky defense, an Over 2.5 goals bet could be a safe option.
• First Half: England to Lead: England has a strong track record in starting games well, so betting on England to be leading at halftime might be worth considering.