England v Albania: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for England v Albania

England usher in a new era tomorrow night as Thomas Tuchel takes charge of the Three Lions for the first time.

Albania are the visitors to Wembley with both teams opening their World Cup qualification campaigns as they bid to make the finals next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Tuchel has demanded a more ‘English’ approach from his players, emphasising a more direct, aggressive way of playing and a move away from the possession-based football under predecessor Gareth Southgate.

The German said: “We want to play with a hunger and a joy to win and not with the fear to lose. Anything can happen in football – we know this – but the focus is on winning [and having] a higher number of touches in the opponent’s box, higher amount of attacks, higher amount of high ball recoveries.

“Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose.

“I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win…and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football.”

Making our way down south ahead of tomorrow’s game at @WembleyStadium! 🧳 pic.twitter.com/mU4nFOk0FK

— England (@England) March 20, 2025

England captain Harry Kane has worked with Tuchel before, at Bayern Munich last season, and he is excited at rekindling their relationship on the international stage.

Kane said: “I had the pleasure of working with him last year and I knew what he could bring to the type of squad we have.

“We’ve only been together a few days and it hasn’t disappointed. Camp after camp, as he settles in and we get to know him more, I think we will improve as we go. Ultimately, it’s about building up until next year.

“He’s very straight talking. He knows what he wants and knows what he wants from his team. It doesn’t matter who you are or how many games you played, he’ll tell you the same as he will tell one of the young players what he wants. That’s a good standard to set.”

England are the overwhelming favourites to win Group K in the UEFA qualifying section but Albania will be optimistic of competing for the runners-up spot alongside Serbia.

Albania are coached by former Arsenal left-back Sylvinho and his will be keen for his side to improve on a record of two wins in their last nine games.

Team News for England v Albania

England are without a host of regulars who may otherwise have been in Tuchel’s squad – Bukayo Saka, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Hall.

Cole Palmer has also been ruled out after suffering an injury prior to Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.

It remains to be seen if he hands a recall to Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson following his surprise inclusion in the squad while there could be a debut for Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Albania are without the injured Elseid Hysaj of Lazio and Al-Ittihad’s Mario Mitaj.

🦅 kuqezi kanë mbërritur në 📍Londër për sfidën kundër Anglisë në 🏟️ “Wembley”#ENGALB #kombetarja #fshf #futboll #WorldCupQualifiers pic.twitter.com/Q4nvynWQUm

— FSHF (@FSHForg) March 19, 2025