England vs Albania LIVE: World Cup qualifier result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the post-match reaction as England put themselves on the cusp of qualification for the 2022 World Cup with a 5-0 win
England moved to within one point of qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by dismantling Albania 5-0 at Wembley on Friday night.
Within 10 minutes of kick-off, Gareth Southgate’s side had broken the deadlock as Harry Maguire headed home a Reece James free-kick with ease – his celebration drawing the ire of Roy Keane in the ITV studio. Just shy of 10 minutes later, Harry Kane doubled the Three Lions’ lead by netting his own header, courtesy of a chipped assist from Jordan Henderson, who soon made it 3-0 with a tidy close-range finish. Kane would round out a perfect hat-trick before the half-time whistle sounded, first blasting a powerful strike across goal from a tight angle, then scoring a deflected bicycle kick from a corner on the cusp of the break.
England could not find the net again once the action resumed at Wembley, but Southgate took the opportunity to get Jack Grealish, Tammy Abraham, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham on the pitch from the bench, as well as debuting Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe. The win kept Southgate’s team atop Group I of the European qualifying pools, their 23 points one fewer than what is required to ensure England a place at next winter’s world championship in Qatar.
Follow all the fallout and analysis from Wembley:
England 5 - 0 Albania
54 mins: Kastriot Dermaku fouls Harry Kane over on the right side of the pitch. It’s a similar position to where England scored the opening goal from. Reece James takes the set piece this time and sends a teasing cross into the six-yard box but there’s no runners heading towards the ball and it skips out of play.
England 5 - 0 Albania
51 mins: Henderson and Kane link up again with the midfielder slipping a through ball up to the England captain. Understandably he’s full of confidence and gives it a go from range but leans back on the effort and smokes the ball over the crossbar.
England 5 - 0 Albania
48 mins: Albania made two more substitutions at half-time. Ylber Ramadani and Enea Mihaj have replaced Nedim Bajrami and Lorenc Trashi. The away side started the second half nicely, stringing together a few passes and not overcommiting to the press. It seems as though they may want to limit the damage.
Second half: England 5 - 0 Albania
Kick off: England kick off the second half with the same personnel as the first. The first chance of the half goes to the visitors though as the win possession and work the ball down the left side. It’s played into the middle of the final third and comes to Cikalleshi who shoots from range and draws an easy save out of Pickford.
Kane draws level with Jimmy Greaves
Harry Kane’s hat-trick sees him draw level with the late, great Jimmy Greaves on 44 goals for England. He’s also overtaken Wayne Rooney’s recored for the most competitive goals scored for the Three Lions (39).
Hat-trick hero Harry
After failing to score against Hungary last time out Harry Kane proved that that performance was just a blip on his goalscoring run for England.
He’s been in imperious form this evening and earned himself a hat-trick before half-time.
Maguire answers the critics
Harry Maguire’s poor form for Manchester United had a few people raising their eyebrows over his selection for England this evening. He answered those reservations in style with a lovely headed effort to kick start England’s dominance in the game.
Half-time: England 5 - 0 Albania
45+2 mins: A dominating, devastating performance from England has blown Albania away in the first half of this World Cup qualifying match at Wembley.
Harry Maguire got things rolling and Jordan Henderson scored his second international goal but the night belongs to Harry Kane. A headed goal, a left-foot goal and a right-footed strike saw him complete a perfect hat-trick in 45 minutes.
After the dull performance against Hungary last month this is what all the England fans wanted to see and there’s another 45 minutes to go.
GOAL! England 5 - 0 Albania (Kane, 45+1’)⚽️
45+1 mins: A perfect hat-trick for Harry Kane! England win a corner in the last minute of added time and Foden curls the ball into the middle of the box. Bizarrely, Kane is unmarked and meets the ball with roundhouse right-footed shot that leaves Strakosha absolutey no chance to keep it out. Brilliant from Harry Kane!
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