FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Tuchel’s England up and running as Lewis-Skelly scores on debut

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Tuchel’s England up and running as Lewis-Skelly scores on debut

England debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly got new coach Thomas Tuchel’s reign up and running as the 18-year-old scored the first goal in a 2-0 home victory against Albania in their World Cup qualifying Group K opener on Friday.

The Arsenal left-back, who along with Newcastle United’s Dan Burn was handed a first cap in Tuchel’s maiden game in charge, slotted home in the 20th minute at a packed Wembley.

There was much for Tuchel to ponder in a far-from-fluent display and it took England until the 77th minute to make the points safe when captain Harry Kane’s precise finish ensured his side began their path to next year’s finals with a win.

Tuchel’s England team is back in action at Wembley on Monday when it hosts Latvia in its second qualifier while Albania hosts group outsiders Andorra.

Lewis-Skelly only made his first Premier League start in December but his rapid progress caught the eye of Tuchel and he was given his chance as England sets off on its latest quest to win its first trophy since 1966.

It took him only 20 minutes to repay the faith as Jude Bellingham turned on the edge of the area and slid a pass through for Lewis-Skelly to shoot low past Thomas Strakosha.

He became the youngest player to score on his senior England debut, taking the record away from Marcus Rashford who was also 18 when he scored against Australia in 2016.

Tuchel sprang something of a surprise by recalling Rashford to the squad and then giving him his first England appearance for a year but he was a largely peripheral figure.

England racked up 437 passes in the first half — the most recorded by data analysts Opta in any first half of any match — although the vast majority of them were in front of a deeply-packed Albania defence.

Burn, who five days earlier at Wembley scored Newcastle’s opening goal in their historic League Cup final win over Liverpool, had virtually nothing to do in the first half.

However, his heart was momentarily in his mouth as from a rare Albania attack, his clearing header spun the ball up into the air and landed on the top of the crossbar.

He then almost emulated Lewis-Skelly when he headed a Declan Rice corner against the woodwork while Kane was denied an almost certain goal with a superb block by Albania’s Berat Djimsiti.

Albania asked more questions of England’s defence after the break and thousands of fans raised their decibel levels as they made some dangerous incursions forward.

But, Kane eased any jitters with a superb guided finish after taking the ball out of the air, his 70th England goal.

Published on Mar 22, 2025