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Thomas Tuchel is hoping nobody does a Wayne Rooney today (or indeed a Cristiano Ronaldo) and gets themselves sent off and a suspension for the tournament next summer.
No red cards please. We are through and we are in a position with last man then the player holds the shirt he gets the red card. If there’s a doubt then it would be smarter not to do it.
If he goes in the last man example and if we can avoid it no red card of course. But I don’t want to make it too big a subject because then you have a cloud above you. But if you have the choice don’t do it.
Harry Kane could make a bit of history today. He’s on 76 goals for England and will draw level with Pelé’s total for Brazil if he scores today. Here’s a look at how the Bayern Munich striker compares to some of the (selected) greats at international level:
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 143 goals
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Lionel Messi (Argentina) 115
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Pelé (Brazil) 77
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Harry Kane (England) 76
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Gerd Müller (West Germany) 68
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Ronaldo (Brazil) 62
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Diego Maradona (Argentina) 34
So, what about the Ballon d’Or, Harry? David Hytner heard his answer to that question this week:
I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don’t win the Champions League or the World Cup, you’re probably not going to win the Ballon d’Or. It’s the same with Haaland, it’s the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies.
We’re in great shape at Bayern Munich so that maybe makes the odds a little bit more in my favour. Same with England. Hopefully, if things go my way for club and country then I’m definitely going to be in the conversation for a trophy like the Ballon d’Or.
In other World Cup qualifying news, Portugal have joined England and friends at next summer’s finals after a 9-1 thumping of poor Armenia – without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo. Hint hint. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves got hat-tricks.
And the Republic of Ireland have snuck into the playoffs at the last! Troy Parrott completed his hat-trick with a 96th-minute winner to deny Hungary in Budapest this afternoon.
Team news
Jude Bellingham is among seven changes to the England team that beat Serbia on Thursday. Adam Wharton makes his first senior start in midfield alongside Bellingham and Declan Rice.
Dean Henderson replaces Jordan Pickford in goal, while Jarell Quansah makes his debut at right-back, with Dan Burn partnering John Stones in the centre of defence.
Eberechi Eze and Jarrod Bowen play either side of Harry Kane in attack. Alex Scott could earn his first cap off the 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 call this a dead rubber. England sealed their place at next summer’s World Cup a whole month ago. Albania themselves secured a spot in March’s playoffs with a win against Andorra on Thursday.
But with the World Cup just seven months and a few games away, there is no such thing as a dead rubber for the England players looking to convince Thomas Tuchel that they deserve a seat on his plane to North America. Not even the likes of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden can be sure of a place in the squad until it is named in May.
England have won on all three of their previous trips to Tirana, the latest being a 2-0 victory under Gareth Southgate on the way to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. It was lockdown. Mason Mount scored. Kalvin Phillips was in midfield. Jesse Lingard came off the bench. Those were different times.
It’s a 5pm (GMT) kick-off today at the Air Albania Stadium. I’d like to hear your thoughts on how England have done in 2025 under Tuchel, how you expect them to fare at the World Cup and who you think should – or should not – be on that plane. Views from Albania are also appreciated. Get in touch via email.
