Manager Thomas Tuchel decided to make seven changes to his side for this, the last group match in the qualifying stages of the competition. This led somewhat to a disjointed start to the England performance, although they did win a corner in the first minute, which came to nothing. After five minutes, Declan Rice, who kept popping up in the centre-forward position, saw a weak shot easily saved by goalkeeper Thomas Strakhosa. Albania then won their first corner but that one actually ended back with their own keeper.

The home side were putting a great deal of effort into their play, closing down and also breaking at speed which meant that England's defenders had to be alert. Then, on 12 minutes Rice won another corner, and there was so much holding and pushing going on it was amazing that England did not get a penalty. Instead, John Stones was penalized, accused of a push when at least two of the Albanians rugby tackled England players! Four minutes later and Rice is again the man with a shot at goal, this time firing over the bar. The disjointed play from the visitors continued and when Harry Kane's poor pass sent Elseid Hysaj away and bearing down on goal, it looked ominous until the Albanian fired over the bar.

Soon afterwards Hysaj went off injured, but play continued to be scrappy with the England players not finding the space they found at Wembley in the previous match. Kane was always very deep trying to get the ball and the visitors midfield was really struggling to cope with the Albanians shutting them down and also breaking from deep very quickly. England were also being beaten to the ball more often in this game compared to recent performances, but having said all that, Dean Henderson had not had a save as the clock reached 35 minutes. There were two distinct differences in the two teams so far, England's build was slow and laborious, whilst Albania's was quick and decisive.

On 37 minutes though, England with Jude Bellingham to the fore, attacked hard and the midfield player fed Jarrod Bowen who cut inside and forced Strakhosa into a full-length diving save. From the resultant corner the goalkeeper saved again, this time from a Jarell Quansah header. Although England were creating all the clear chances, there was still something missing from their play. Adam Wharton was unluckily booked when he cleanly won a tackle only for the Albanian player to go down screaming when he clearly lost the ball fairly. It is so galling watching football sometimes and I am sick to the back teeth of seeing referees conned by the phoney antics of some European players. Rice and Eberechi Eze then tried to break through but both moves came to nothing and the half ended goalless.

The home side were the first to go close in the second-half as the attempted finish by Quasim Laci was poor after a good cross from substitute Ivan Balliu. One other thing that annoyed me in this game was the number of foul throws the Albanians did,. The back foot should remain on the ground as far as I remember from my reffing days, but it doesn't apply in Albania apparently! Annoyingly, one of those foul throws led to Henderson's first real save of the match as Arber Hoxha fired in a good shot well saved. Then on 51 minutes the home side should have taken the lead when a poor pass by Dan Burn was intercepted and Balliu messed up the clear chance by shooting straight at Henderson.

Two minutes later Eze was caught in possession, not for the first time, and at this stage England looked lethargic, ragged and lacking in ideas. Bowen was then caught out by a handball and then Bellingham fed Eze whose shot was easily saved at the near post. Quansah, who had struggled all game, then saw his lazy pass inside cut out, and Albania moved forward swiftly but without a final outcome. On the hour Burn headed a cross down and Bellingham should have netted but shot over. It wouldn't have counted though as Burn was penalized for his challenge. Not before time, England made some substitutions bringing on Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden for Rice and Eze. Saka's first touch saw him shoot weakly at goal, but it was saved. Henderson had to be quickly off his line to stop Laci with a good tackle after a poor backpass had put England in trouble.

Saka is caught in two minds when another half-chance presented itself, but England were all over the place at times in this period of the match. The flow of the play was peppered with umpteen fouls and then, out of the blue, on 74 minutes England took the lead from a corner. Saka's kick was inadvertently flicked on by Hysaj and there was Kane once again in the right place at the right time to prod the ball home from close range. After that Tuchel brought on Elliot Anderson and Marcus Rashford and immediately England looked a better side. The goal had deflated the home side but suddenly with Anderson back on the field, the midfield was tidied up. However, Bellingham received a booking after Armando Broja performed a ‘Tom Daley with pike!'.

England were now looking much better and they cemented their victory with a second goal on 82 minutes. This time Rashford his a sublime cross into the middle and there was that man again, Kane, to head his second and 78th England goal. Incredible, and what would we do without him. Tuchel sent on Morgan Rogers to replace Bellingham for the last few minutes and it has to be said that since the subs came on England have settled down to become the dominant force again. Foden was really lively and Anderson delivered the steadiness needed in the midfield. Broja went down again and he spent more time on the floor than a mop! To be fair he had to be stretchered off this time, so perhaps it was a real injury.

In the closing minutes Kane came close to a hat-trick several times, Rashford shot just wide and with the last kick of the match Kane also shot wide. So, all in all it was another away win and another clean sheet. The seven changes had had an adverse affect on England's early play at times But Henderson did everything he had to do, Burn worked his socks off, Stones did his job effectively, but Quansah struggled in his right-back role. Foden and Anderson looked impressive again and the Nottingham Forest man has been the find of the season for England. As for Kane, there are no superlatives left to describe his amazing contribution to the team. 78 goals, wow, will that ever be beaten I wonder. So, a fantastic qualification record and job well and truly done.
         

Source Notes