Albania V England: World Cup 2026 Qualifying – Live

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Team news

Jude Bellingham is among 7 changes to nan England squad that hit Serbia connected Thursday. Adam Wharton makes his first elder commencement successful midfield alongside Bellingham and Declan Rice.

Dean Henderson replaces Jordan Pickford successful goal, while Jarell Quansah makes his debut astatine right-back, pinch Dan Burn partnering John Stones successful nan centre of defence.

Eberechi Eze and Jarrod Bowen play either broadside of Harry Kane successful attack. Alex Scott could gain his first headdress disconnected nan bench.

Confirmed lineups

Albania (4-3-3): Strakosha; Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Aliji; Laci, Asllani, Ramadani; Bajrami, Uzuni, Hoxha.
Subs: Dajsinani, Simoni, Balliu, Cake, Ajeti, Manaj, Asani, Tuci, Pajaziti, Berisha, Daku, Broja.

England (4-3-3): Henderson; Quansah, Stones, Burn, O’Reilly; Rice, Wharton, Bellingham; Bowen, Kane, Eze.
Subs: Pickford, Trafford, James, Chalobah, Spence, Henderson, Anderson, Scott, Rogers, Saka, Foden, Rashford.

Preamble

Well, you could telephone this a dormant rubber. England sealed their spot astatine adjacent summer’s World Cup a full period ago. Albania themselves secured a spot successful March’s playoffs pinch a triumph against Andorra connected Thursday.

But pinch nan World Cup conscionable 7 months and a fewer games away, location is nary specified point arsenic a dormant rubber for nan England players looking to person Thomas Tuchel that they merit a spot connected his level to North America. Not moreover nan likes of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden tin beryllium judge of a spot successful nan squad until it is named successful May.

England person won connected each 3 of their erstwhile trips to Tirana, nan latest being a 2-0 triumph nether Gareth Southgate connected nan measurement to qualifying for nan 2022 World Cup. It was lockdown. Mason Mount scored. Kalvin Phillips was successful midfield. Jesse Lingard came disconnected nan bench. Those were different times.

It’s a 5pm (GMT) kick-off coming astatine nan Air Albania Stadium. I’d for illustration to perceive your thoughts connected really England person done successful 2025 nether Tuchel, really you expect them to fare astatine nan World Cup and who you deliberation should – aliases should not – beryllium connected that plane. Views from Albania are besides appreciated. Get successful touch via email.