LONDON — Thomas Tuchel’s time as England’s head coach began positively on Friday, with his team securing a 2-0 victory against Albania in their first World Cup qualifying match. Myles Lewis-Skelly made a remarkable senior debut, highlighting the home side’s dominant opening spell by scoring the first goal. He skillfully moved behind the defense to receive a pass from Jude Bellingham that cut through multiple Albanian players and confidently scored his first international goal.
England could have extended their lead further in a dynamic first half. Harry Kane had a shot cleared off the goal line, and Dan Burn, also making his debut, came close with a powerful header. However, Albania presented a greater challenge after halftime, finding moments to bypass England’s press and attempt counter-attacks using their wingers.
Just as tension began to rise at Wembley, Harry Kane calmed nerves. He expertly controlled Declan Rice’s cross, maneuvered the ball, and then struck a low shot into the far corner for his 70th international goal, adding to his record.
More challenging games await Tuchel, and with more time, a more comprehensive tactical approach should be expected, moving beyond what resembled Gareth Southgate’s typically successful qualifying strategies. However, this match still provided some noteworthy adjustments and positive takeaways.
1. Early Energy Boost for England
Even before kickoff, a clear sign of Thomas Tuchel’s Premier League influence on England was visible. Kane and Bellingham positioned themselves aggressively near the halfway line. Bellingham’s initial premature movement into Albania’s half forced a restart by the referee. On the subsequent attempt, Bellingham timed his run perfectly, and within moments, England had forced Albania to resort to a long clearance from their first possession.
While attacking adjustments were more subtle initially – limited by Albania’s deep defensive setup, England showed increased urgency in their attacks. More strikingly, Tuchel’s team pressed intensely after every turnover. Within the first 15 minutes, Declan Rice charged forward to block an Albanian clearance, nearly setting up Kane, and Phil Foden almost regained possession with a forceful sliding tackle on the right flank. Even Kane, despite reduced high-pressing ability in recent years, worked to block passing lanes.
This energetic approach marks a significant early shift from Southgate’s England. In past tournaments, they often preferred a deeper defensive structure, which contributed to their progress in major competitions by minimizing goals conceded. This strategy had benefits but also allowed opponents to organize defensively before England regained possession, often leading to slow, labored build-up play against weaker teams. Early in this match, England’s high-energy, off-ball work positively influenced their attacking play.
‘I was pleased with our start and structure, particularly in controlling their counter-attacks,’ Tuchel commented on their defensive work. ‘We were organized and sought openings.’
Ninety minutes wasn’t enough to fully erase some ingrained habits, and fatigue in the second half allowed Albania more opportunities to create passes. Ezri Konsa’s crucial defending prevented a potential equalizer. Questions remain about England’s stamina in demanding conditions, like those expected in the 2026 World Cup in hot climates, if they maintain this intensity. However, this camp was about establishing a new tone and incorporating more domestic league dynamism into England’s game. Tuchel’s team began promisingly.
2. Bellingham Excels, Foden’s Time May Be Limited
England’s attacking play showed encouraging signs for Tuchel. Curtis Jones and Rice provided a solid midfield base, allowing Bellingham creative freedom. His consistent high-level performances for Real Madrid, both offensively and defensively, justify this role.
Against Albania, Bellingham was more of a playmaker and creator than a disruptor, a role he often takes at club level. He frequently dropped deep to distribute passes to the wings, or drive forward into Albania’s defense. Tuchel highlighted this in his post-match comments, especially noting the pass that split the defense and set up Lewis-Skelly’s goal.
The same dynamism was less evident on the flanks. For Foden, this match was another quiet one. While his defensive work rate was commendable and he linked up well with Jones at times, he recorded no shots, no chances created, and only two touches in the penalty area – fewer than any other starting forward.
Tuchel’s assessment of both Foden and Marcus Rashford was direct. ‘Both wingers were not as effective as they usually are for their clubs.’ Specifically on Foden, he added, ‘We will encourage him to utilize his strengths, to challenge defenders, to dribble, as we positioned him on the right wing today.’
Foden’s talent has earned him patience within the England setup, but he has now played 43 international games. In how many of these has he replicated his consistent Manchester City form? With Bukayo Saka set to return and compete for a starting spot, and Cole Palmer also in contention after the Club World Cup, Foden faces increasing pressure.
If Saka secures the right-wing position and Bellingham maintains his strong form, the only remaining spot is on the left flank, where Foden struggled at the Euros and where Rashford started in this match, seemingly instructed to stay wide and high.
Tuchel observed Foden’s struggles in that left-wing role last summer. Time might be running out for Foden to prove his value to the team.
3. Left-Back Problem Solved?
Just when it seemed England might face yet another left-back dilemma – a position historically dominated only by Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw this century – a promising prospect has emerged. Myles Lewis-Skelly, the youngest player to score on his England debut, played at Wembley with the same confidence and composure seen in his club breakthrough. It was recently that Erling Haaland, in more colorful language, questioned the Arsenal academy player’s identity.
Haaland, and the wider football community, are now well aware. Since the incident that marked his Premier League debut, Lewis-Skelly has potentially overtaken an experienced Italian international and a multiple Premier League winner (among others) to possibly become Arsenal’s preferred left-back. He responded to Haaland’s comments memorably, navigated intense media attention, and earned a rapid promotion to the England squad. Impressive for a player who had never played left-back before Mikel Arteta’s preseason positional switch.
‘He is fearless,’ said Arsenal teammate Declan Rice about Lewis-Skelly. ‘He is exemplary off the pitch, and only 18. I expected him to perform like this tonight because of his confidence. He is grounded, and this is just the beginning for him.’
This indeed appears to be the case. While it’s early to definitively assign an 18-year-old to one position, there is a strong case for both Arsenal and England to let Lewis-Skelly develop at left-back. He offers significant impact from that position. Leading up to his goal, Lewis-Skelly positioned himself on the left of the back three in build-up, surged beyond Marcus Rashford as a wing-back, and joined the attack as an inside forward. It’s understandable Albania didn’t anticipate the threat.
When Tuchel sought to add an extra player high up the pitch, he turned to Lewis-Skelly, instructing the teenager to move into midfield ‘because we wanted to take more risks and get closer to players.’ From left-back, England gained a defensive midfielder, a ball progressor, and a defender, all in one player. The debate about whether Tuchel and Arteta should return Lewis-Skelly to his natural midfield role to maximize his impact, similar to discussions around Trent Alexander-Arnold, is likely to emerge. However, Lewis-Skelly is consistently making a significant positive impact in his current role. Why change what’s working?
Dominic Ashworth