Thomas Tuchel's New England Era Begins with 2-0 Victory Against Albania
England kicked off the Thomas Tuchel era with a solid 2-0 win over Albania in World Cup qualifying at Wembley. Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly made a dream senior international debut by scoring the opener, while captain Harry Kane added his 70th England goal to secure the victory.
The match marked Tuchel's first game in charge after officially taking over in January, though he only met his players four days before the fixture. The German manager, who had previously suggested England played with fear during Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
"Thomas Tuchel's had the squad for three days - you can't expect to see a different England team," said former Three Lions midfielder Leon Osman on BBC Radio 5 Live. "We won the football match. Once we got ahead there was no urgency."
England dominated possession with 74% of the ball and recorded all six on-target efforts in the game. In the first 45 minutes, they completed 437 passes - the most in any England first half on Opta's records. Despite this control, the hosts struggled to break down Albania's defensive setup, particularly in the opening period.
The performance maintained England's impressive home qualifying record - they remain unbeaten in 38 home qualifiers for World Cups or Euros since November 2007, with 34 wins in that span.
Former England defender Matt Upson observed: "It was a difficult game from a spectating perspective. Once we got into the rhythm, it was very much an England game at Wembley against inferior opposition where they struggled to break them down." He added that Tuchel likely learned to "understand what it feels like and looks like tactically" to play against a team employing a low block like Albania's.
The standout performer was undoubtedly 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent months. Just after the September international break, he had yet to play a senior professional game. Now, he's established himself as an Arsenal regular with 26 appearances, including a goal against Manchester City and two red cards (one overturned).
Lewis-Skelly demonstrated the modern full-back role perfectly - front-footed, cutting into central midfield, and appearing in the box at the right moment. His goal came from Jude Bellingham's fantastic through ball, making him the third-youngest England goalscorer ever and the youngest to score on debut.
"In the second half he played as a number eight or a number 10," Tuchel explained. "His very best position is where he plays for Arsenal in the double six. We tried to play a bit more conventional today as it's easier to learn because we have many players from many different clubs, but he understands very quickly."
At the other end of the experience spectrum, 32-year-old Newcastle defender Dan Burn made his England debut - becoming the oldest Three Lions debutant since Kevin Davies in 2010. For Burn, it capped an extraordinary week after he scored for Newcastle in their Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool just days earlier.
Burn's performance was notable for its statistics - he became the first England debutant to make 100 or more passes on Opta's record, finishing with 135 completed from 137 attempted. He also led the team in clearances (seven), tackles won (two), and aerial duels (four). His aerial presence was evident as he managed to hit both crossbars during the match.
"He was excellent in the first half, looked very good but didn't have much to deal with defensively. He showed his threat from set-pieces," said Upson, though he noted Burn had a few difficult moments when Albania substitute Armando Broja came on.
While Lewis-Skelly and Burn impressed, wingers Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford struggled to make an impact. Rashford, making his first England appearance in a year after finding form on loan at Aston Villa, showed some good early touches but created little of substance. Similarly, Manchester City's Foden failed to spark on the right side. Both were substituted in the 74th minute along with Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.
Tuchel acknowledged their difficulties: "Both of our wingers that started were not as impactful as they can be or as they are in club football. At the moment I'm not so sure why we struggled to bring the ball quicker to them. They trained very well, they were decisive in training which is why they deserved it. They were very good in the last weeks in their clubs. We will keep encouraging them and give them a structure so they can show their potential."
One constant remained Harry Kane's goalscoring prowess. The England captain netted his 70th international goal with typical precision, controlling Rice's cross before passing the ball into the bottom corner. This made Kane the first England player to score on his first appearance under three different managers - Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, and now Tuchel.
"Typical Kane," observed Upson. "He didn't get much action for quite long periods but a couple of his passes were superb. He drops deeps and clips those balls over the top. His finish was really high level. The first touch and movement and to find that bottom corner was excellent."
The goal also continued Kane's productive relationship with Tuchel, having scored 44 goals in 45 games under the German at Bayern Munich. Only Mauricio Pochettino has overseen more Kane goals as a manager.
As England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign, all eyes will be on how Tuchel develops his vision for the team in the coming months.
