England 2-0 Albania: Player ratings as Bellingham stars in Three Lions win
- Thomas Tuchel's debut in the England dugout ended in a routine victory
- Myles Lewis-Skelly broke the deadlock
- Harry Kane sealed three points after the break
England kicked off Thomas Tuchel's tenure with a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win at home to Albania on Friday evening.
Myles Lewis-Skelly broke the visitors' stubborn resolve in the 20th minute, latching onto Jude Bellingham's wonderfully threaded through ball and poking his first shot as a senior England international underneath Thomas Strakosha.
Only two other players have ever scored for the England men's team at a younger age than the 18-year-old and no debutants in the 153-year history of the national side can match Lewis-Skelly's prolific and prodigious start.
Harry Kane is comfortably at the opposite end of the international experience spectrum. England's skipper racked up his 70th goal on his 104th appearance in the 78th minute, puncturing a strong spell for the visitors who were very much threatening to spoil Tuchel's big day.
In the end, England cruised to a 2-0 victory which didn't quite deflate the excitement generated by Tuchel's appointment but it was hardly a wildly different display compared to Gareth Southgate's widely derided regime.
England player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Jordan Pickford | 7.1/10 |
RB: Kyle Walker | 7.6/10 |
CB: Ezri Konsa | 8.0/10 |
CB: Dan Burn | 8.2/10 |
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 8.4/10 |
CM: Curtis Jones | 7.6/10 |
CM: Declan Rice | 8.5/10 |
AM: Jude Bellingham | 8.6/10 |
RW: Phil Foden | 6.8/10 |
ST: Harry Kane | 8.6/10 |
LW: Marcus Rashford | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Morgan Rogers (74' for Jones) | 5.9/10 |
SUB: Anthony Gordon (74' for Rashford) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Jarrod Bowen (74' for Foden) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Jordan Henderson (83' for Rice) | N/A |
SUB: Reece James (90' for Lewis-Skelly) | N/A |
Subs not used: Dean Henderson (GK), James Trafford (GK), Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento, Eberechi Eze, Dominic Solanke.
Albania player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Thomas Strakosha | 6.6/10 |
RB: Ivan Balliu | 5.9/10 |
CB: Arlind Ajeti | 6.3/10 |
CB: Berat Djimsiti | 6.8/10 |
LB: Naser Aliji | 5.9/10 |
CM: Qazim Laci | 6.5/10 |
CM: Ylber Ramadani | 5.8/10 |
CM: Kristjan Asllani | 6.7/10 |
RW: Jasir Asani | 5.8/10 |
ST: Myrto Uzuni | 5.7/10 |
LW: Nedim Bajrami | 5.9/10 |
SUB: Armando Broja (63' for Bajrami) | 6.4/10 |
SUB: Adrion Pajaziti (79' for Laci) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Arber Hoxha (79' for Asani) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Elhan Kastrati (82' for Strakosha) | N/A |
Subs not used: Alen Sherri (GK), Ardian Ismajli, Enea Mihaj, Marash Kumbulla, Juljan Shehu, Medon Berisha, Ernest Muci, Rey Manaj
Player of the match - Jude Bellingham (England)
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