Key stats
- England have kept a clean sheet in all eight games, more than any other in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
- England have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 10 games in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, a run of 1,032 minutes without conceding a goal.
- England have won their last 10 games in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, their longest winning streak in the competition (since at least 2010).
Highlights
Match report
Seven changes to Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up from Thursday’s win over Serbia had no impact on England’s dominance early on, though it was one of the retained quartet, Declan Rice, who took the ball out of the sky and forced Thomas Strakosha into the first save four minutes in.
Despite possession hovering at around 75 per cent in their favour in the first 18 minutes, another Rice strike blazing over was all England created before Elseid Hysaj ventured forward for the hosts and fired an effort from range narrowly over.
With only three goals conceded across their previous seven games in the group, Albania’s defensive structure was not far off the level of England’s before play.
However, they found themselves stretched with nine minutes of the first half to go, and when Jude Bellingham teed up Jarrod Bowen on the right, Strakosha’s fingertips did just enough to keep the match level.
From the resulting corner, Jarell Quansah’s header proved not as uncomfortable for the goalkeeper.
England’s clean sheet record should have fallen in the opening six minutes of the second half.
Qazim Laçi’s audacious flick was easy for Dean Henderson, but Arbër Hoxha’s fierce drive from outside the box brought the best out of the Crystal Palace man, who should have had no chance when the ball was slipped through to Hoxha once more, but the hosts’ dangerman planted the best chance straight at the goalkeeper.
Fortunate not to be behind, England responded through Eberechi Eze being denied by Strakosha from a tight angle, before a Bellingham snapshot landed on the roof of the net.
Bukayo Saka twice fluffing his lines from perfect positions meant the Three Lions entered the final quarter of a match level for the first time this campaign.
However, they didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock, as Saka’s 74th-minute corner was flicked on by an Albanian head, and Harry Kane poked the ball past Strakosha.
Seven minutes from time, England secured maximum points when Kane headed home an expert cross from Marcus Rashford for his eighth goal in Group K.
England will travel to North America on their first-ever run of 11 competitive victories, while Sylvinho’s side head into the playoffs following a first loss in nine matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Kane (England)