Albania vs England live: Kane brace secures perfect record in World Cup qualifiers
Albania 0-2 England: Kane’s brace secures unbeaten World Cup qualification campaign for Three Lions
A late brace from Harry Kane secured a win for England against Albania in their final match of the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
The visitors started well but faded as the first half went on, with Albania frustrating an experimental starting eleven that included Jarrod Bowen, Jarell Quansah and Adam Wharton.
The second half saw both sides spurn good chances but England began to pile on pressure, with substitutes including Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford helping the side to gain control before the former’s corner found Kane a couple of yards out, and the captain bundled in for his 77th England goal.
And Kane had time to score his 78th too, taking himself past Pele’s goal tally for Brazil with a header that secured eight wins from eight for Thomas Tuchel’s flawless Three Lions side.
Follow latest updates from Albania v England, below
Thomas Tuchel unimpressed as Jude Bellingham reaction takes shine off England win
It was the return that came with a rebuke. Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel are reunited but, for the second time in a few months, the England manager found fault with the resident superstar’s behaviour. This time, at least, he did not deem him “repulsive”. But the hint was that he had been too selfish. The way his comeback ended prompted Tuchel to criticise him again.
If England, already qualified for the World Cup, had little to play before besides a perfect record they sustained with an imperfect performance, Bellingham had plenty to gain, or indeed lose. A first start for his country since June could not be pronounced an unqualified success: not when Tuchel deemed his reaction to being removed egotistical.
Thomas Tuchel unimpressed as Jude Bellingham reaction takes shine off England win
Harry Kane scores twice as England ease to victory in Albania
England completed a perfect World Cup qualification campaign in Albania as Harry Kane’s late brace secured Thomas Tuchel’s side an eighth victory without conceding.
Having sealed their place in North America with two matches to spare, the back-to-back European Championship runners-up ended their first year under the German coach as it began.
Tuchel oversaw a 2-0 triumph against Albania in his first match as England boss and 240 days later saw his much-changed side survive a couple of scares on their way to victory by the same scoreline in Tirana.
Harry Kane scores twice as England ease to victory in Albania
FULL-TIME! Albania 0-2 England
The full-time thoughts of Richard Jolly at the Air Albania Stadium:
“Jude Bellingham is back but that was another win England could chalk up to Harry Kane. But also to Thomas Tuchel's subs, with Saka and Rashford helping to set up the two goals. Plenty of food for thought for Tuchel. Dean Henderson did his cause no harm. Not sure Bowen and Eze made the most of their starts, though.”
FULL-TIME! Albania 0-2 England
The referee blows the final whistle and that is that! England take eight wins from eight from the campaign with zero goals conceded.
Albania 0-2 England
90 +2 mins
CLOSE! Not far from a hat-trick for Kane, as he picks up the ball in the area but can’t find the angle for the shot before blasting it wide via a deflection.
Moments later, Rashford tries his luck from distance but it fizzes wide of the far post.
Albania 0-2 England
90 mins
Into the first of five minutes of added time as Armando Broja is lifted onto a stretcher to be taken off. Worrying times for the Burnley man, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
Albania 0-2 England
87 mins
Those goals seem to have taken the wind out of the Albania sails. Not a lot going on as the match approaches the final whistle, though Broja is now down and needs treatment.
Albania 0-2 England
84 mins
Thise goals for Kane are his 77th and 78th for England, in 112 outings. That means the England captain has more international goals than Pele!
Another sub for England, with Bellingham off for Morgan Rogers.
GOAL! Albania 0-2 England
82 mins
GOAL! England have their second.
It all comes from a superb ball from Marcus Rashford. He picks it up on the left and stands up his man before fizzing in a lovely diagonal cross to the back post, where Kane is there to head back across Strakosha and into the far corner!
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