World Cup header WWW

World Cup

England national football team
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Mar 21, 2025 at 7.45pm UK
Wembley Stadium
Albania national football team

England
2 - 0
Albania

Lewis-Skelly (20'), Kane (77')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Djimsiti (33')

The Match

Match Report

England boss Thomas Tuchel makes a winning start to his tenure in Friday's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Albania as Myles Lewis-Skelly creates history on his international debut.

Preview

Sports Mole previews Friday's World Cup Qualifying clash between England and Albania, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Predicted Lineups

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how England could line up for Friday's World Cup qualifying clash with Albania.

Form, Standings, Stats

England

All competitions
Last Game: England 5-0 Rep. Ireland
Sunday, November 17 at 5pm in Nations League

Albania

All competitions
Last Game: Albania 1-2 Ukraine
Tuesday, November 19 at 7.45pm in Nations League

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a England win with a probability of 79.2%. A draw had a probability of 14.3% and a win for Albania had a probability of 6.46%.

The most likely scoreline for a England win was 2-0 with a probability of 14.9%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 3-0 (12.17%) and 1-0 (12.17%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (6.73%), while for an Albania win it was 0-1 (2.75%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 14.9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 2-0 win for England in this match and our team at Sports Mole correctly predicted the win for England.

Result
EnglandDrawAlbania
79.2% (0.27799999999999 0.28)14.34% (-0.184 -0.18)6.46% (-0.0951 -0.1)
Both teams to score 38.78% (0.114 0.11)
Goals
Over 2.5Under 2.5
57.71% (0.475 0.48)42.28% (-0.477 -0.48)
Over 3.5Under 3.5
35.31% (0.47199999999999 0.47)64.69% (-0.47399999999999 -0.47)
England Goals
Over 0.5Under 0.5
91.36% (0.17699999999999 0.18)8.64% (-0.18 -0.18)
Over 1.5Under 1.5
70.21% (0.434 0.43)29.79% (-0.436 -0.44)
Albania Goals
Over 0.5Under 0.5
42.44% (0.040999999999997 0.04)57.55% (-0.042999999999999 -0.04)
Over 1.5Under 1.5
10.65% (0.023 0.02)89.35% (-0.024000000000001 -0.02)
Score Analysis
    England 79.18%
    Albania 6.46%
    Draw 14.34%
EnglandDrawAlbania
2-0 @ 14.9% (-0.07 -0.07)
3-0 @ 12.17% (0.050000000000001 0.05)
1-0 @ 12.17% (-0.16 -0.16)
2-1 @ 8.24% (-0.024999999999999 -0.02)
4-0 @ 7.45% (0.091 0.09)
3-1 @ 6.72% (0.036 0.04)
4-1 @ 4.12% (0.056 0.06)
5-0 @ 3.65% (0.075 0.07)
5-1 @ 2.02% (0.044 0.04)
3-2 @ 1.86% (0.012 0.01)
6-0 @ 1.49% (0.042 0.04)
4-2 @ 1.14% (0.017 0.02)
Other @ 3.26%
Total : 79.18%
1-1 @ 6.73% (-0.078 -0.08)
0-0 @ 4.97% (-0.107 -0.11)
2-2 @ 2.28% (-0.004 -0)
Other @ 0.37%
Total : 14.34%
0-1 @ 2.75% (-0.055 -0.06)
1-2 @ 1.86% (-0.018 -0.02)
Other @ 1.85%
Total : 6.46%

How you voted: England vs Albania

England
88.5%
Draw
3.8%
Albania
7.7%
234
Head to Head
Nov 12, 2021 7.45pm
Group Stage
England
5-0
Albania
Maguire (9'), Kane (18', 33', 45+2'), Henderson (28')

Gjasula (9'), Cikalleshi (21'), Ismajli (25'), Laci (68')
> Preview
Mar 28, 2021 5pm
Group Stage
Albania
0-2
England

Bare (22'), Hysaj (79'), Gjasula (89')
Kane (39'), Mount (63')
Walker (69'), Kane (73')
> Match Report
Build-up
England manager Thomas Tuchel pictured on March 14, 2025
Thomas Tuchel's first England starting XI revealed as Marcus Rashford, Myles Lewis-Skelly decisions made
England boss Thomas Tuchel names his first starting lineup as Three Lions boss for Friday's World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania.
Mar 21, 18:33
 Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel pictured on May 17, 2024
Thomas Tuchel 'drops three England players' for Albania match including Liverpool, Nottingham Forest talents
England head coach Thomas Tuchel reportedly omits three players from his matchday squad to face Albania in Friday's World Cup 2026 Qualifying match at Wembley.
Mar 21, 08:57
 Jude Bellingham in action for England on July 14, 2024
Jude Bellingham primed to break Wayne Rooney England record as Thomas Tuchel faces Albania dilemma
England midfielder Jude Bellingham could break a national team record set by Wayne Rooney when the Euro 2024 finalists face Albania in Friday's World Cup qualifier.
Mar 20, 12:05
 England manager Thomas Tuchel pictured on March 14, 2025
Thomas Tuchel facing three key decisions for first England game in Albania World Cup 2026 qualifier
Ahead of England's World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania on Friday, Sports Mole looks at three key issues Thomas Tuchel is facing for his first game.
Mar 19, 20:28
 Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford celebrates on February 28, 2025
England lineup vs. Albania: Predicted XI for World Cup qualifying contest, as Tuchel names first team
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how England could line up for Friday's World Cup qualifying clash with Albania.
Mar 19, 15:08
 SM-EK PH composite
Phil Foden's England stints "have always been poor" but Thomas Tuchel selection could give Man City man much-needed "boost"
Man City expert Steven McInerney shares his thoughts to Sports Mole on Phil Foden's "poor" international stints with England and hopes the attacker can play himself back into form under new Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel this month.
Mar 18, 21:40
rhs 2.0
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38259486414584
2Arsenal382014469343574
3Manchester CityMan City38218972442871
4Chelsea38209964432169
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle382061268472166
6Aston Villa38199105851766
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest381981158461265
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38161396659761
9Bournemouth3815111258461256
10Brentford38168146657956
11Fulham38159145454054
12Crystal Palace381314115151053
13Everton381115124244-248
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham381110174662-1643
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd38119184454-1042
16Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38126205469-1542
17Tottenham HotspurSpurs38115226465-138
RLeicester CityLeicester3867253380-4725
RIpswich TownIpswich38410243682-4622
RSouthampton3826302686-6012
> Premier League Full Table


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