90min

Albania vs England preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news and prediction

By Daniel Feliciano

England travel to Albania for their second qualifying game
England travel to Albania for their second qualifying game / Visionhaus/Getty Images
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England travel to Tirana to face Albania on Sunday as they look to make it two wins from two in their World Cup qualifiers.

Gareth Southgate's team kicked off their campaign with a 5-0 win over minnows San Marino, with the manager able to rest several first-choice players. Albania also won their opening game, beating Andorra 1-0.

It's the first time the two teams have met since a 2001 World Cup qualifier, where goals from Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler earned the Three Lions a 2-0 win at St. James' Park, but Albania are a much better side than they were back then and come into this game having won their last four.

Where to watch

Gareth Southgate
Southgate was in the squad the last time these two countries played each other / Pool/Getty Images

When is the match? Sunday 28th March
What time is kick-off? 17:00 GMT
Where is it being played? Arena Kombetare
TV Channel: ITV (UK)
Referee: Orel Grinfeeld (ISR)

England team news

The hosts come into the game with a fully fit squad of 23 to choose from following the win over Andorra. Ermir Lenjani should keep his place at left wing-back, with Albania tending to go with a 3-5-2 formation for the majority of their games.

England will be without Marcus Rashford for the game, after the winger returned to Manchester United to continue treatment on a foot injury. Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker both missed the win over San Marino with injuries and are doubts for the game, but other than that Southgate has plenty of options.

Marcello Mularoni, Jude Bellingham, Enrico Golinucci
Bellingham impressed as a half-time substitute / Pool/Getty Images

Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Harry Maguire were rested for the game but should come back into the side while Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Mason Mount were substituted at half-time too. James Ward-Prowse and Jude Bellingham got 45 minutes each and both impressed, so either could start in midfield.

Predicted lineups

Albania: Berisha; Veseli, Kumbulla, Djimisti; Hysaj, Bare, Laci, Memushaj, Lenjani; Manaj, Cikalleshi

England: Pope; James, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Mount, Bellingham; Sterling, Kane, Foden

Recent form

Alex Martinez, Ledian Memushaj
Albania have won four in a row, including beating Andorra on Thursday / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

ALBANIA

Andorra 0-1 Albania (25/3)
Albania 3-2 Belarus (18/11)
Albania 3-1 Kazakhstan (15/11)
Albania 2-1 Kosovo (11/11)
Lithuania 0-0 Albania (14/10)

ENGLAND

England 5-0 San Marino (25/3)
England 4-0 Iceland (18/11)
Belgium 2-0 England (15/11)
England 3-0 Rep. Ireland (12/11)
England 0-1 Denmark (14/10)

Albania - England prediction

Despite the home side being in good form, England should win this one fairly comfortably. The Three Lions are in good form with lots of players playing at a high level currently, with plenty of options in several positions.

Albania were able to hold Andorra to just one shot on target and only 84 passes completed in their midweek game and will be a much more competitive opponent than San Marino were, but the gap in quality is still surely too big to overcome.

Harry Kane
Harry Kane will return to the starting lineup and likely the scoresheet / Pool/Getty Images

A well rested team should be able to turn up in Tirana and put their defence to the sword with a good attacking display, with Kane likely to find the back of the net for his country for the first time since 2019.

Prediction: Albania 0-3 England

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