Thomas Tuchel will make his debut as head coach of the Three Lions when they welcome Albania to Wembley Stadium. However, the Eagles face a daunting task in securing three points, having won just one of their last five matches. Ahead of the clash on March 21, Kick Off Nigeria editor Ayomide Oguntimehin provides key details on the match and predictions.
Match Preview
Tuchel will be hoping to make history with the Three Lions, who have not won a major trophy since 1966. However, after reaching the Euro 2024 final, expectations are high that England can secure World Cup qualification and possibly lift a major title. With their solid performances so far, the game against the Red and Blacks is expected to be a walk in the park.
Albania, on the other hand, are aiming for their first-ever World Cup qualification, but securing a win against England remains a challenging task. Nevertheless, they will be hoping to produce a shock result.
Head-to-Head: England vs Albania
- 25 April 1989 – England 5-0 Albania (FIFA World Cup qualifiers)
- 28 March 2001 – Albania 1-3 England (FIFA World Cup qualifiers)
- 05 September 2001 – England 2-0 Albania (FIFA World Cup qualifiers)
- 28 March 2021 – Albania 0-2 England (FIFA World Cup qualifiers)
- 12 November 2021 – England 5-0 Albania (FIFA World Cup qualifiers)
Recent Form: England
England reached the Euro 2024 final but fell short against Spain, losing 2-1. Before that, they secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals and needed penalties to edge past Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Their round-of-16 clash against Slovakia also went to extra time, where they managed a 2-1 win. However, their group-stage performances were less convincing, with draws against Slovenia (0-0) and Denmark (1-1).
In the UEFA Nations League, England recorded a dominant 5-0 victory over Ireland but suffered a 2-1 home loss to Greece. They also claimed a solid 2-0 win against Finland.
At home, England has shown strength, winning three of their last five matches. They secured important victories over Switzerland, Slovakia, and Ireland but struggled in their defeat to Greece.
Recent Form: Albania
Albania has shown glimpses of resilience but has struggled for consistency in recent outings.
In the UEFA Nations League, they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Ukraine and played out a goalless draw against the Czech Republic. Their only victory in the competition came in a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Georgia, but they also endured losses against the Czech Republic (2-0) and Georgia (1-0).
At Euro 2024, Albania managed a commendable 2-2 draw against Croatia but suffered defeats to Spain (1-0) and Italy (2-1), ultimately failing to progress past the group stage.
Away from home, Albania has recorded two important wins in recent months, beating Georgia (1-0) and Ukraine (2-1). However, they fell to a 2-0 defeat against the Czech Republic and had to settle for a draw against Croatia in the Euros.
Player to Watch: Eberechi Eze
Eze, who is of Nigerian descent, has been named in Tuchel’s first squad as England’s head coach. If he features in the game, he will make his 10th appearance for the national team. He is a player to watch, as his creativity and attacking flair could pose a significant threat to Albania’s defence.
Best Betting Odds
- Home to Win (Yes) – 1.17 on 1xBet
