Key Takeaways:
- England achieved their eighth consecutive qualifying win and eighth clean sheet last night against Albania
- Harry Kane netted both goals, reaching six career goals versus Albania
- The Three Lions set a new away winning sequence, with seven straight victories on the road
Dominant Defensive Display and Eighth Successive Win
England concluded their qualifying campaign in emphatic fashion last night, notching their eighth successive victory with a 2:0 away triumph over Albania, while also preserving a perfect defensive record with an eighth consecutive clean sheet.
Although the visitors were not at their most clinical, star striker Harry Kane struck twice in the second half to ensure the Three Lions completed the group stage without conceding and with maximum points.
Our #ThreeLions finish the year in style! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wzf2AJEh6Z
— England (@England) November 16, 2025
Match Summary and Key Moments
Albania had already secured second place and a playoff berth after their last match, so the defeat proved inconsequential for the hosts. Nonetheless, they spurned several promising opportunities in the first half, allowing England to retain control.
The match marked England’s seventh consecutive away victory, their longest such sequence since between 1965 and 1967 when they managed nine successive wins on opposition soil. England also became just the fifth team to keep a clean sheet throughout an entire qualifying campaign, a feat last matched by Sir Bobby Robson’s England ahead of the 1990 World Cup.
Squad Rotation and Tactical Adjustments
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several adjustments from the previous outing against Serbia. Only John Stones, Declan Rice, Matt O’Riley, and Harry Kane retained their starting places. Dean Henderson started between the posts, with Jarell Quansah brought in at centre-back. Jude Bellingham returned to the line-up, Adam Wharton earned his first England start, and the front three consisted of Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, and Harry Kane.
| Albania | England |
|---|---|
| Strakosha | Henderson |
| Hysaj (23′ Balliu) | Quansah |
| Ismajli | Stones |
| Djimsiti | Burn |
| Alii | O’Riley |
| Laci (84′ Pajaziti) | Wharton (76′ Anderson) |
| Asllani | Rice (62′ Foden) |
| Ramadani | Bellingham (84′ Rogers) |
| Bajrami (75′ Broja) | Bowen (76′ Rashford) |
| Uzuni | Eze (62′ Saka) |
| Hoxha | Kane |
First Half: Missed Chances and Midfield Control
England began brightly, dictating the opening stages with Declan Rice twice trying his luck, including a chest-and-volley effort safely gathered by Strakosha. The visitors enjoyed 76% possession in the opening 15 minutes, yet Albania soon responded, with Hysaj narrowly missing the target before being replaced following injury.
Further dangerous moments came via Bowen and Quansah, but the Albanian keeper remained equal to the task, ensuring a goalless scoreline at the interval despite England’s superior opportunities.
Second Half: Kane Delivers and Record Secured
Upon the restart, Albania created early threats, with both Laci and Hoxha forcing Dean Henderson into action. England’s goal remained under threat following an errant Burn pass intercepted by Bajrami, who teed up Hoxha for another effort that Henderson gathered.
England’s best chance up to that point fell to Jude Bellingham on the hour after Burn flicked on a free-kick, but the midfielder lost his footing and blazed over. Bellingham soon set up Saka, whose cross-goal shot failed to test Strakosha. Stones’ subsequent lapse nearly provided Bajrami a clear opportunity, but Henderson was alert to intervene.
The breakthrough arrived in the 74th minute following a corner. An Albanian defender inadvertently headed the ball backwards, and Harry Kane pounced at close range to prod home, netting his sixth career goal against Albania. The visitors sealed the result in the 82nd minute, with substitute Marcus Rashford crossing for Kane to nod in at the back post. Further attempts from Kane and Rashford missed the mark, but the result was beyond doubt.
Match Statistics
| Result | Albania 0:2 England |
|---|---|
| Goals | 0:1 Kane 74 0:2 Kane 82 |
| Clean Sheets | England – 8 consecutive |
| Away Wins | England – 7 consecutive (longest streak since 1965-67) |
| Historical Defensive Feat | Fifth team to keep a clean sheet in an entire qualifying campaign; previous: England 1990 |
Conclusion
England’s latest performance not only extended their perfect qualifying run but also consolidated their reputation as one of the most secure defensive units on the international stage, equalling records that have stood for decades. With Harry Kane leading the line and shuffling the squad to maintain form, the Three Lions will head into the next stage brimming with confidence.
