This match was won and lost in a blistering first-half by an England team determined to get the job of qualification for the World Cup Finals done and dusted.  After the disappointment of the home draw against Hungary in their previous match, England came out of the blocks quickly.

After just four minutes Raheem Sterling wiggled his way through the Albanian defence and appeared to be brought down in the box.  The referee waved away England's protests, but it was not to be the last reckless challenge by the visiting defenders.  When Klaus Gjasula clattered over Harry Kane, he deservedly earned himself a booking, the first of four Albania received on the night.  And also deservedly, from the free-kick England opened the scoring.  The assist came from Reece James, outstanding all through.  His pinpoint cross to the far post gave Harry Maguire the easiest of headers as he firmly headed home, much to his delight after recent criticism of his club form.

On ten minutes Phil Foden was clean through, but his shot was high and wide as a challenge came in.  Albania made an early substitution with Keidi Bare going off and Qasim Laci coming on.  Four minutes later a disastrous backpass from Kyle Walker almost produced a shock equaliser.  Luckily for Walker, Jordan Pickford stood tall to make a fine save from Nedim Bajrami.  A let-off for England with Walker full of apologies to his teammates.

With still only 15 minutes into the match, Albania had to make another change as Marash Kumballa went off to be replaced by Kastriot Dermaku.  Three minutes later though and England scored another fine goal.  Lovely inter-play between Foden and Jordan Henderson ended with the most sublime cross where Kane delightfully headed past the goalkeeper.  Joy all round, and England were now rampant.  Ben Chilwell's cross was just too high for Foden, Sterling had defenders in all sorts of bother before finally being crowded out, and then Ardian Ismajli, was booked for another horrible foul on Sterling.  The Albanians were not taking any prisoners on this night, that's for sure.  On 27 minutes another poor England pass almost led to a goal for the visitors, but Pickford again saved, this time from Sokol Cikalleshi.  Careless errors by England, but that did not detract from their dominance and almost immediately they added a third goal, and another cracker it was too.

Henderson doesn't score very often for England but he will forever remember this one.  He stormed into the box, played a superb one-two with Kane, sidestepped defenders and slotted home with his left foot.  A brilliant goal.

Two minutes later, on the half-hour, Kane so nearly made it four after he combined with Sterling, and two minutes after that he came even closer as he typically fired in a curling effort that had goal written all over before Thomas Strakhosa just managed to get a hand on it to push it wide for a corner.  The save of the game.  From the corner John Stones headed over.  However, England only had to wait for another minute before it was 4-0.  This time Sterling fed Kane on the left and he jinked past a defender before firing a left-foot shot into the far corner giving the keeper no chance to save.

England continued to put the visitors under immense pressure and Kane came within a whisker of a hat-trick when he fired in from another Sterling pass, but just pulled his shot inches wide.  Then on 42 minutes it was another James cross that Kane met with a diving header.  It just missed but that was also a good effort and the striker had a threesome in his eyes!  Just before the break the England skipper sorted it. 

Maguire was beaten to a Sterling cross by a defender.  The defender's header almost went into his own net, but out for a corner.  From the kick though Kane scored another beauty to complete that much cherished hat-trick.  As the cross came in Kane met it with a superb scissors-kick volley that flew past Strakhosa.  Almost immediately the half-time whistle blew and what a half it had been for England and for their “out of form” skipper!  He was lethal in this match and produced a masterclass of finishing, left-foot, header, and right-foot, the perfect hat-trick.

Now in these sort of games, the second-halves can be more of the same, or it can fall very flat!  Sadly for the fans, this was of the latter variety.  Another bad pass gave Cikalleshi a chance but again Pickford saved, and all three of his saves had come from careless errors by his teammates.  To be fair to Albania they put up a much better showing in this half, keeping possession well but without giving England too much to worry about.  The game was a procession of substitutions for both sides after this, with nothing much worth reporting.  I don't know about you, but if I was a substitute coming on for England I would be full of energy and intent.  Sadly, that wasn't the case with most of the subs that did come on.  So the match petered out with all the damage done in that brilliant first-half.  As for Harry Kane, James Peter Greaves will be looking down on him and delighted by the fact that another Spurs striker has equalled his 44 goals for England.

Still, it is not over until it's over and there is another vital game coming up, and nothing in football is certain, but San Marino? Come on.
       

Source Notes