A new start, new Head Coach, new caps, and the return of some old faces, for this, the start of England's qualification for the World Cup next year. Unfortunately, after the game one could only really feel that it was more of the same old same. Almost total possession, but no real imagination to be more positive in their play, and once again it was square, square, back, back, square!

The visitors set out their stall early doors, defend in depth and look for the quick break, and that was the problem for England to solve, as has happened at Wembley many times before. The home possession was almost 100% but the build up play was predictable, until, as so often happens, a long ball over the top almost unlocked the defensive set up. The pass was aimed at a darting run by Jude Bellingham but unfortunately his control let him down at the vital moment. Meanwhile Curtis Jones was prompting well, but often looking for the runs that were not being made. On 17 minutes the recalled Marcus Rashford and Bellingham combined, and only some desperate defending foiled Harry Kane.

But, two minutes later and England broke the deadlock. Bellingham was again at the heart of the move as he spotted a fine run from Myles Lewis-Skelly on debut, sending a fabulous pass through to the Arsenal youngster who did really well to poke the ball through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net. What a moment for the 18-year-old to savour, a full-back scoring on debut, was that a first? The second actually, as Chris Lawler did it against Malta back in 1971.

We then sat back expecting a hatful of goals, but alas, the pattern of play returned to that before the goal. Kane did some fine tackling back in his own half and then sent a long ball forward which was mis-controlled, thus the chance was lost. Two minutes later came the only scare England suffered at the back. The ball looped to the far post and actually hit the woodwork as Jordan Pickford and another debutant Dan Burn, struggled to clear the danger. They did manage it at the expense of Albania's first corner, which was cleared. On 34 minutes Bellingham went close to scoring a second goal for the home team, but this time Thomas Strakhosa, who played well in the Albanian goal, got down quickly to block the shot.

The match was warming up at this point with play switching quickly from end to end but without the finishing touch. Burn was showing up well in the little he had to do, and what a memorable week he had. With five minutes of the half left England so nearly doubled their lead, and how the ball stayed out of the Albanian net was hard to explain. Kyle Walker made a marauding run down the right, got to the byeline and lobbed the ball into the middle which was met by a diving Bellingham with a goalbound header. Again Strakhosa made a brilliant save but the ball came out to Kane who shot at goal, seemingly certain to score. Somehow though, the visiting skipper, with the wonderful name of Berat Gjimshiti blocked Kane's shot, deflecting it over the bar with a desperate lunge.

That wasn't the end of the near misses before the break as Burn almost reproduced his magical moment in the Carabao Cup Final by leaping high to power a fierce header against the crossbar before Strakhosa forced it over. The half ended with England on top but still seeking that decisive second goal. But for the keeper they would have been clear by the break.

The opening to the second-half was scrappy at times with neither side creating chances. Albania were defending solidly and with much determination, and they, like many others these days, certainly knew how to milk a slight touch by an English challenge. Just before the hour mark a good cross from the left by Bellingham was headed wide by Kane, and then another quick break by England ended by some more poor control. One of the main problems of the England attack was that both wide men, Phil Foden and Rashford continually cut inside, instead of occasionally going round the outside of their markers.

After some substitutions, Albania found themselves in good forward positions but first Walker, and then Ezri Konsa snuffed out the chances with some fine defending. Konsa's, particularly, was a superb tackle and interception.

More substitutions followed before, on 77 minutes England finally secured the win with that elusive second goal, and a beautifully taken one it was too. A cross from the right by Declan Rice was missed by a defender and Kane, with expert control brings it down, and calmly fires the ball into the far corner. Remarkably, that was his 70th goal for his country, and proves yet again what a star player he has been for England.

And that was it to be honest, not a great deal happened in the remaining minutes apart from Albania bringing on a substitute goalkeeper for the injured Strakhosa, whilst Jordan Henderson left his Zimmer frame on the bench as he came on to win his 82nd cap, Another player who has served his country so well and deserves this call up back to the fold.

There were elements of same old, same old, in England's performance but Thomas Tuchel can celebrate a win on his debut, and that will be satisfying for him, but a little less negativity is what the majority of England's fans want to see from his team. In Lewis-Skelly, the fearlessness of youth shone brightly, so more of that please. Dan Burn did everything expected of him, and I like him because he has the same birthday as me!

Now on to Monday for volume two of the Tuchel reign.
       

Source Notes