9 min Foden’s cross is headed behind for the first corner. He takes it himself, driving it towards Stones at the far post. Veseli does well to ensure Stones can’t get a clear run at the ball, and his header flies over the bar.
8 min Nothing to report. Albania look well organised defensively, and thus far England have created the square root of bugger all.
4 min Lots of early possession for England. Albania’s 3-4-3 formation is morphing into a 5-4-1.
3 min “Cautiously excited to see this England XI,” says Robert Lin. “It could well be the team for the Euros with two or three exceptions. Pickford probably still ahead of Pope, Henderson if fit for Phillips and perhaps Rashford in place of Foden?”
I think Chilwell is still the first-choice left-back, though that could change. You can make a case for James and Grealish as well. It’s really tight in some positions, isn’t it?
2 min England’s formation is actually a 4-2-3-1, with Foden on the left, Sterling on the right and Mount behind Kane.
1 min Peep peep! England kick off from right to left. They are in white; Albania are in red.
Twenty years ago today
Twenty years, man!
If you’re into the whole England thing, Sam Curran is trying to pull of a minor miracle in Pune.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Digvijay Yadav. “Where do you sit on the Southgate debate? Does he still have credit in the bank from 2018? Or does England’s current generation deserve a better coach?”
I know it’s easy to say this when you’re not emotionally invested, but I think England fans should be careful what they wish for.
Pre-match reading
No big surprises in the England team. The in-form Luke Shaw plays for the first time since 2018. Phil Foden also starts, probably as the right-sided attacker.
Albania (3-4-3) Berisha; Ismajli, Djimsiti, Veseli; Hysaj, Laci, Bare, Memolla; Cikalleshi, Broja, Uzuni.
Substitutes: Selmani, Strakosha, Lenjani, Gjasula, Memushaj, Manaj, Arlind Ajeti, Hoxhallari, Doka, Ramadani, Kallaku, Kamberi.
England (4-2-3-1) Pope; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Sterling, Mount, Foden; Kane.
Substitutes: D Henderson, Johnstone, Trippier, Lingard, Coady, James, Ward-Prowse, Calvert-Lewin, Mings, Chilwell, Watkins, Bellingham.
Referee Orel Grinfeeld (Israel)
Hello. Contrary to the beloved cliche, there are plenty of easy games in international football. Just ask[that’s enough of that - Ireland ed]. But Albania are no longer one of them. They have improved enormously in the 21st century and have the ability to give England a game in Tirana tonight. Albania qualified for Euro 2016, beating the eventual champions Portugal en route, and were recently promoted to League B of the Nations League. A number of their squad are regulars in Serie A.
In short, this is unlikely to be San Marino (reprise). England should still win, because they are - excuse me - a damn fine football team, and they usually make short work of World Cup qualification. Their last defeat was in 2009, and that was a dead rubber, so it’ll still be a shock if they lose today. But it’ll be nowhere near as seismic as it would have been 20 years ago.
Kick off 5pm.
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