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 1 - 0 Albania
12 mins: Albania are forced into a very early change as Keidi Bare has hurt himself in a challenge with Sterling. He’s replaced by Qazim Laci.
England win a corner that Foden takes. There’s a bit of argy bargy in the box before the corner is whipped in but Frederic Veseli gets there ahead of Maguire to head the ball out of the box.
GOAL! England 1 - 0 Albania (Maguire, 9’)⚽️
9 mins: England are in front! Kyle Walker slots a pass up to Harry Kane on the inside right and he’s tackled from behind by Klaus Gjasula. He’s shown a yellow card and England win a free kick. Foden swings it into the back post where Harry Maguire amkes a run in front of Myrto Uzuni, gets to the ball and heads it sweetly into the far bottom corner!
England 0 - 0 Albania
8 mins: Albania’s defenders are playing right on the edge. Harry Maguire sends the ball over to Phil Foden on the right side and he slips a pass into the box for Reece James getting forward with an underlapping run. Lorenc Trashi sprints in front of the England wingback and slides towards the ball, timing his tackle perfectly to win possession but clattering James at the same time.
England 0 - 0 Albania
6 mins: Nice work from Raheem Sterling. He’s given the ball on the inside left and drives towards the box. His pace is rapid as he darts inside of Marash Kumbulla who leans across him and body checks him just outside the box. Sterling goes down but the referee lets play go on and a long pass up to Myrto Uzuni catches the Albanian striker offside.
England 0 - 0 Albania
3 mins: England look a bit sketchy as Albania press up the pitch. They still trying to find their feet in the game without being put under too much pressure. Jordan Pickford has sent a few long passes up to Harry Kane with the England captain winning the aerial balls.
England 0 - 0 Albania
Kick off: There’s a moment’s silence to remember 1966 World Cup winner Ron Flowers who passed away earlier today.
The referee then blows his whistle, England take the knee and Albania get the match underway.
England vs Albania
Here come the teams. Harry Kane leads England out onto the Wembley pitch. The national anthems are played. Kick off is next...
England vs Albania
Wembley is rocking now. Sweet Caroline is played throught he speakers and there’s a light show as we wait for the players to head onto the pitch.
The fans will be hoping for a good, dominating performance from England tonight. If they win they’ll pretty much be at the World Cup next year.
Gareth Southgate expects improved display from England and Harry Kane
Gareth Southgate expects an improved performance from England and mentally refreshed captain Harry Kane as his side look to all but wrap up World Cup qualification by beating Albania.
A sell-out crowd will flock to Wembley on Friday for the final home match of a mammoth international year that saw the Three Lions fall to an agonising Euro 2020 penalty shootout loss to Italy.
Gareth Southgate expects improved display from England and Harry Kane
A sell-out crowd will flock to Wembley on Friday for the final home match of a mammoth international year
England vs Albania
This will be Gareth Southgate’s 67th match in charge of England, the joint-most of any England manager since Sir Bobby Robson left in 1990, equalling Sven-Goran Eriksson’s tally between 2001 and 2006.
Southgate has already won more games (42) than Eriksson (40), with only Sam Allardyce (100 per cent, from one game) and Fabio Capello (67 per cent) having a better win ratio for England than Southgate (64 per cent).
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