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Live Updates

Match Start – Rice sends it back to Henderson to kick upfield and the game is on.

Two singers of smartly dressed gentlemen with microphones lead us in versions of the two anthems. Classy.

Djimsiti and Kane walk out with their flags. Kick-off in the English team’s final game of 2025 is moments away.

Played 7, won 7, conceded 0. Smooth sailing for the English side so far in the qualifiers. Beyond this qualifying group, they’ve now maintained nine consecutive clean sheets in competitive fixtures – only two teams have achieved that in European football before.

The Spanish national team are the sole other side in UEFA qualification still to let in a score. For reference, the Liechtenstein team are the only side still to score.

Squad Updates

Bellingham is among 7 changes to the English side that defeated Serbia on the previous matchday. Adam Wharton earns his maiden senior start in midfield together with Bellingham and Declan Rice.

Henderson replaces Pickford in goal, while Jarell Quansah makes his debut at right-back, with Dan Burn alongside John Stones in the centre of defence.

Eze and Bowen operate either side of Kane in attack. Scott could get his first appearance off the bench.

Official Starting XIs

Albanian National Team (Four-three-three): Strakosha; Elseid Hysaj, Ardit Ismajli, Berat Djimsiti, Aliji; Laci, Asllani, Ylber Ramadani; Bajrami, Myrto Uzuni, Sokol Hoxha.

English National Team (4-3-3): Dean Henderson; Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Burn, Festus O’Reilly; Rice, Wharton, Jude Bellingham; Jarrod Bowen, Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze.

Preamble

So, you could call this a non-decisive game. England sealed their spot at next summer’s global tournament a full month earlier. Albania also clinched a spot in the March playoffs with a win against Andorra on Thursday.

However with the World Cup just 7 months and a few games away, there is no such thing as a dead rubber for the England footballers looking to convince Tuchel that they deserve a seat on his plane to the USA/Canada/Mexico. Not even the players of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden can be certain of a place in the team until it is announced in May.

The English national team have triumphed on each of the three of their previous trips to the Albanian capital, the most recent being a 2-0 win under Southgate on the way to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. It was the pandemic. Mason Mount scored. Phillips was in the engine room. Lingard was a substitute. Those certainly were another era.

The match is a 17:00 (GMT) start today at the Air Albania Stadium. I’d love to receive your thoughts on how England have performed in this year under Tuchel, how you anticipate them to perform at the World Cup and who you think ought to – or should not – be on that plane. Views from Albania are also welcome.