England vs Albania - World Cup qualifier: TV channel, prediction, team news and lineups

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·20 Maret 2025

England vs Albania - World Cup qualifier: TV channel, prediction, team news and lineups

England have won all six previous meetings with Albania, scoring 19 goals and conceding only one.

The Three Lions are unbeaten in 28 World Cup qualifiers on home soil, their most-recent such defeat coming at the hands of Germany in 2000, the final game ever to be played at the old Wembley.

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England vs Albania Preview

It's the start of the Thomas Tuchel era and he arrives with one goal in mind, win the World Cup. Well, being the side who achieves that in New Jersey on 19 July next year certainly won't be easy, but England's road to North America starts here. Drawn into Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Andorra and Latvia, the Three Lions are widely-expected to cruise to top spot, thereby featuring at an eighth successive World Cup finals, USA '94 the most-recent edition they missed out on.

After reaching last summer's European Championships Final in Germany, Gareth Southgate stepped down as manager, following seven years in the role, meaning it was interim boss Lee Carsley who oversaw the UEFA Nations League campaign in the autumn. England did gain promotion back to League A, beaten at home by Greece in October, but winning their other five fixtures, leaving Athens 3-0 winners and then hammering the Republic of Ireland 5-0 to secure top spot back in November.

Now though, the start of a new year signals the start of a new campaign and the start of Tuchel's tenure, so will the Three Lions collect three points at a sold-out Wembley on Friday night?

As for Albania, are they capable of a major upset? Well, the Red and Blacks did feature at the Euros last year, finishing top of their qualifying group, above Czechia and Poland, thereby reaching only a second major tournament. Once in Germany, the Eagles did exit in the group stage, but were only narrowly beaten by both Italy and eventual winners Spain, also holding Croatia to a credible 2-2 draw, courtesy of Klaus Gjasula's dramatic 95th minute equaliser.

Since then however, they have been relegated to League C of the Nations League, finishing bottom of a group that contained Czechia, Ukraine and Georgia, despite actually accumulating seven points from six matches. Nevertheless, this is a team with big ambitions, led by former Arsenal defender Sylvinho, while ex-Man City full-back Pablo Zabaleta is his assistant. In the context of this group, Albania will believe second spot, and a place in the play-offs, is well within their grasp, with their two games against fierce rivals Serbia likely to determine their fate.

When Albania last visited Wembley in November 2021, they found themselves 5-0 by half time, with Harry Kane having scored a hat-trick in under half an hour. As the pair prepare to meet again, another emphatic England victory is the most-likely outcome.

England vs Albania Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played: 6.

England Wins: 6. Draws: 0. Albania Wins: 0.

England Team News

Thomas Tuchel's first-ever England squad certainly had people talking, so let's take a look at it position-by-position. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has started 64 of the 76 competitive internationals since his debut at the 2018 World Cup, so will he continue to be the number one?

Meantime, in defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Lewis Hall and Luke Shaw are all injured, while Jarrad Branthwaite and Rico Lewis were not selected. Thus, there's likely to be an uncapped at left-back; either 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly or 32-year-old Dan Burn will get the nod, the latter would become England's oldest debutant since Kevin Davies in 2010. Across the back-line, only Kyle Walker, Reece James and Marc Guéhi are into double figures for caps.

Into midfield, Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo are injured, while none of Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Angel Gomes nor Adam Wharton were selected. Meantime, Jordan Henderson was a surprise inclusion, considering the Ajax man has not featured for England since November 2023. Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are nigh-on guaranteed starters, but the other spot is up for grabs.

Lastly, Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka are all sidelined, but Marcus Rashford is back, having not featured at international level for almost exactly a year. Dominic Solanke's two appearances during last year's Nations League were his first two caps since 2017.

England Player to Watch vs Albania

Harry Kane's penalty against Ireland last time out took his tally to 69 international goals; only 19 men of any nationality have more. His tally of four against Albania is only bettered by the five he's managed against San Marino, while 28 of Kane's 69 goals have been scored at Wembley.

Albania Team News

Sylvinho's squad ply their trade far and wide across the globe, albeit the most recognisable face in their squad was born about 15 miles from Wembley in Slough. Armando Broja has made only seven substitute appearances for Everton this season due to injury, but could add to his 23 caps.

Elsewhere, with first-choice goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, once of Brentford, a doubt, an untried shot-stopper will be donning the gloves, most-likely Elhan Kastrati, who is the most-experienced deputy with two caps. Captain Berat Gjimshiti of Atalanta and Inter's Kristjan Asllani are the veterans of this team, while Jasir Asani, who plies his trade in South Korea, could be their main goal-threat.

Albania Player to Watch vs England

Myrto Uzuni, who's recently joined Austin FC in Major League Soccer, has five international goals to his name, so can he add to that tally at Wembley?

England vs Albania Prediction

We're forecasting a routine England win, with the Three Lions highly-likely to be far too strong for their opponents come Friday night at Wembley: England 3-0 Albania.