England take on Albania at Wembley in Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge. The German coach has been appointed on an 18-month contract through to the 2026 World Cup and England begin that journey as their qualifying campaign gets underway.
Tuchel has wasted no time explaining where England fell short under Gareth Southgate, saying that he felt the team were “afraid” during last summer’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. “I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win,” Tuchel said. “And the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football.”
Tuchel arrives with an impressive CV, that includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and made a number of eye-catching calls when naming his first squad, including a recall for former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Now all eyes are on Tuchel’s first England line-up as the Three Lions look to hit the ground running in their World Cup qualifying group that includes Serbia, Latvia, Andorra and tonight’s opponents Albania.
Follow live updates from Wembley ahead of Tuchel’s first game in charge, below:
England vs Albania LIVE: Latest World Cup qualifying updates
- England host Albania in Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge | Kick-off is at 7:45pm
- Match at Wembley is the start of England’s World Cup qualifying campaign
- England team news: Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn could make debuts
- Morgan Rogers pushing for start if Jude Bellingham plays deeper role
- Morgan Gibbs-White, Aaron Ramsdale and Jarell Quansah left out of squad
- Tuchel opts for 4-2-3-1 formation ahead of first England match
A reminder of the England team news
17:40 , Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Tuchel has no time to waste when it comes to shaping his plans for the 2026 World Cup: he has already confirmed that Harry Kane will be his captain and England’s record scorer will start alongside Jude Bellingham, with Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford also close to automatic picks.
Tuchel will have to decide whether to use Bellingham at No 10 or alongside Declan Rice, with Curtis Jones or Jordan Henderson options to play in a double-pivot and Morgan Rogers under consideration to play further further forward. Tuchel has described former Liverpool captain Henderson as the “glue” in his squad.
On the wings, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford will compete for the spot on the left while injuries to Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer should see Phil Foden play off the right, although Jarrod Bowen is an option.
Tuchel has played with both a back three and back four in his managerial career, but will use a 4-2-3-1 formation in his first game with England. There could well be a debutant at left back with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final hero Dan Burn could also make his first England appearance at centre-back.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Aaron Ramsdale and Jarell Quansah have reportedly been left out from the matchday squad.
When is England vs Albania?
17:32 , Jamie Braidwood
The match will kick-off at 7:45pm GMT on Friday 21 March at Wembley Stadium.
England vs Albania will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage getting underway from 7pm.
Harry Kane hopes to enjoy ‘amazing journey’ under new England boss Thomas Tuchel
17:30 , Mike Jones
England captain Harry Kane is dreaming of lifting the World Cup and hopes Thomas Tuchel can be the man to help deliver it.
Tuchel was appointed as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor with the primary mission of winning in North America next summer.
His reign begins with a qualifier against Albania at Wembley on Friday and Kane hopes it is the start of an “amazing journey” to glory.
Harry Kane hopes to enjoy ‘amazing journey’ under new England boss Thomas Tuchel
Miguel Delaney answers your questions on Thomas Tuchel’s England
17:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Tuchel’s England era is officially underway. Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania will give us the first real glimpse of how the new manager wants his team to play. But what do you want to see from his debut match in charge?
Our chief football writer Miguel Delaney is here to dissect Thomas Tuchel’s England debut and what it means ahead of the next World Cup qualifier against Latvia. Ask your question here.
Miguel Delaney answers questions on England’s World Cup chances
Last meeting with Albania
17:15 , Mike Jones
12 November 2021, World Cup Qualifier – England 5-0 Albania
England skipper Harry Kane took home the match ball the last time the Three Lions faced off against Albania on home turf at Wembley Stadium.
The hosts took a step closer to the 2022 World Cup.
Kane bagged a first-half hat-trick while Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also made the scoresheet.
Dan Burn in contention to start for England
17:05 , Jamie Braidwood
It looks as if Dan Burn could be making his England debut tonight against Albania. What a week it would be for the 32-year-old if that is the case.
Thursday 13 March: Receives first England call-up
Sunday 16 March: Scores at Wembley as Newcastle win first domestic trophy in 70 years
Friday 21 March: Makes England debut at Wembley at age of 32
Do Albania have a chance of winning?
17:00 , Mike Jones
The statistics do not make pretty reading for the visitors.
England have won all six previous encounters and only have a better 100 per cent record against Malta, San Marino and Luxembourg.
Albania have only managed to score just once in those meetings and have never won a competitive match against a nation in the top 10 of the world rankings.
However, Tuchel says “there is no such thing as easy matches anymore” and is prepared for the side 65th in the world to make life tough on Friday.
Albania, coached by former Arsenal and Brazil left-back Sylvinho, played at last summer’s Euros.
Kane on being ‘taken for granted’
16:50 , Mike Jones
“It’s like when Ronaldo and Messi were throwing these crazy numbers out there and the next season they’d score 40 goals instead of 50 and it was like they were having a bad season,” said the England captain at the press conference ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier with Albania.
“People take it for granted and maybe a little bit with England as well. I’ve scored 69 goals and when you score against Albania or Latvia, or these teams, people just expect it so it’s not spoken about so much.
“Say if I was 25 now and doing what I’m doing, the excitement around me would maybe be a little bit different to what it is now. Again, that’s part of where we are with football and I’ve seen it with some other players as they get into their 30s.
“Maybe people just get a little bit bored of what you do, but I’m certainly not bored. I’m excited for these games and the games ahead.”
Kane emulating Lewandowski and Ronaldo
16:39 , Mike Jones
Since Harry Kane made his first appearance in a World Cup qualifier in September 2016, only Robert Lewandowski (25) and Cristiano Ronaldo (21) have netted more qualifying goals among European players than Kane (17 in 14 games).
The Bayern forward has also been involved in six goals in two games against Albania (four goals, two assists).
Dan Burn to start?
16:30 , Mike Jones
The best week of Dan Burn’s life could be about to get even better if he gets the nod at left-back.
Friday’s match will see a glorious return to Wembley, five days after he scored for Newcastle in their Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool.
At 32, he thought his chance had gone, but he could be set for his England debut.
Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly is at the other end of his career, having made a big impression for Arsenal this season, and he looks to be the other main contender to play left-back.
Tino Livramento and Levi Colwill can also play there.
Harry Kane believes growing ‘aura’ could lead to Ballon d’Or: ‘I feel more respected’
16:15 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane is targeting the Ballon D’Or this year, believing Bayern Munich‘s competitiveness gives him the chance he never had at Tottenham Hotspur.
The striker credited new England manager Thomas Tuchel for persuading him to join the club, as he now gets closer to the first domestic title of his career in the Bundesliga, while also having a real chance in the Champions League.
Harry Kane on how growing ‘aura’ could lead to Ballon d’Or: ‘I feel more respected’
Harry Kane believes fans are ‘bored’ by his goals: ‘If I was 25 it would be different’
16:00 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane believes that fans are bored of his goalscoring prowess after years of consistency and feels like his ability in front of goal is being ‘taken for granted’.
Since making the move to Bayern Munich he has scored 76 time in 82 appearances for the German giants while the 31-year-old is the current leading goalscorer for England with 69 goals.
He has previously revealed his aim of scoring 100 goals for the Three Lions and will be targeting a strong qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup which begins tonight.
Kane believes fans are ‘bored’ by his goals: ‘If I was 25 it would be different’
How will Harry Kane fare?
15:30 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane will have been happier than most that Tuchel was the man chosen to replace Southgate, given 18 months earlier the German spent over £86m to take him to Bayern Munich from Tottenham.
Tuchel built his team around Kane at Bayern and looks set to do so again, already confirming that the striker will be his captain.
Despite his incredible scoring record, there have been increasing questions over Kane’s place in the national team over the last 12 months, with interim boss Lee Carsley even dropping him for a crunch Nations League clash in Greece.
However, his goalscoring form for Bayern this season, where he has bagged 32 goals in 37 games, means he remains one of Europe’s best strikers.
England team news: Morgan Rogers pushing for start
15:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Morgan Rogers could start again tonight if Jude Bellingham plays alongside Declan Rice in a deeper role in midfield. The Aston Villa player has made two appearances for England, both against the Republic of Ireland, but is yet to start.
Meanwhile, the Guardian report that Ezri Konsa could start ahead of Marc Guehi in defence. Dan Burn is in line to make his debut at centre-back.
England team news: Three players left out of matchday squad
15:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly left three players out of his matchday squad to face Albania.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been told that be will play no part in tonight’s game, along with Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah.
Gibbs-White, who has impressed with Nottingham Forest this season, was a late call-up to the squad to replace the injured Cole Palmer.
Premier League is the way for Tuchel
15:09 , Mike Jones
Tuchel has cited his intention of playing the Premier League way, which will see England adopt an attacking, physical and exciting style, which will be music to the ears of fans who were frustrated by Gareth Southgate’s pragmatic approach.
But the German still has the same problem Southgate had in devising a set-up which can utilise his plethora of attacking options.
It remains to be seen where the returning Jordan Henderson will fit into his plans and whether he will have a prominent role on the pitch or whether it will be more a cheerleader role.
Tuchel’s first game
15:00 , Mike Jones
Having been named Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor in October and started the role on New Year’s Day, Tuchel is at long last taking charge of his first England game.
Friday’s match against Albania is the first stop on the road to next summer’s World Cup in North America and a sell-out crowd is heading to Wembley for the start of this new era.
England’s previous 10 permanent managers have opened their reigns with victories, with Sir Bobby Robson the last to fail to do so.
Only Sir Alf Ramsey, whose World Cup heroics Tuchel is looking to replicate, lost his first match.
Dan Burn felt ‘overlooked’ ahead of England call-up
14:02 , Mike Jones
One of the biggest stories for this England camp is the fate of Newcastle’s Dan Burn.
The 32-year-old central defender helped end the Magpies 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday.
On Monday morning he joined up with England for the first time and is on the verge of making his international debut.
“Yeah, I think I have been overlooked, but I understood it,” he revealed after joining up with the group. “What Gareth (Southgate) did to bring England from where it was to competing in finals showed that his method was very good.
“When the new manager came in there was a clean slate, but once you’ve been passed over during so many international breaks, you sort of accept the time has passed, but luckily the new manager has taken a chance on me.
“It’s probably made me very resilient. I don’t think I’ve had a straight-line trajectory in my career, I started really late and it’s been very up and down.
“I feel I’ve been doubted a lot over my career. I doubt many people who watched me play at Darlington would say that I’d be sat here doing a press conference for England.”
Henderson a ‘winner’ says Jordan Pickford
13:19 , Mike Jones
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has hailed Thomas Tuchel’s decision to bring Jordan Henderson out of the international wilderness.
Henderson’s inclusion in Tuchel’s squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia was met with surprise as the 34-year-old has not played for his country since November 2023 and his form for Ajax this season has been criticised.
But Tuchel brought him back for his leadership in the group and Pickford said his former Sunderland team-mate is “great for the dressing room”
Jordan Henderson a ‘winner’ and great for England squad, says Jordan Pickford
Jordan Henderson’s shock recall
13:11 , Mike Jones
When the England squad for this international break was announced there were a couple of surprise inclusions.
The most shocking was the return of Jordan Henderson at 34-years-old.
“He embodies everything,” said Thomas Tuchel when asked about Henderson’s return.
“He’s a serial winner, his personality, character. He is the glue in every team where he played, and he will be the glue that makes things special.
“So, I’m convinced and when the teacher is convinced normally in school the class gets better.
“If the teacher is convinced about the quality of the class, the character of the class, it’s better than the other way around.”
Tuchel to try and find missing piece
13:03 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover excitement for winning rather than the fear of losing.
He explained: “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expresson of players, the hunger [were all missing at Euro 2024].
“They [the players] were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”
Tuchel explains what England were missing at Euro 2024: ‘They were afraid’
12:56 , Mike Jones
Thomas Tuchel maintains England were “afraid” at last summer’s Euro 2024 following an agonising defeat in the final to Spain.
The Three Lions boss is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover “excitement”.
And Tuchel will be able to showcase his vision of England for the first time on Friday when England face Albania, though he remained emphatic when assessing where Gareth Southgate’s side fell short a year ago.
Thomas Tuchel explains what England were missing at Euro 2024: ‘They were afraid’
Tuchel on his first match in charge
12:49 , Mike Jones
Naturally much of the build-up to this game has been about Thomas Tuchel as it is his first game in charge of England.
He said: “I just hope so much that they [the fans] can see what I see on a daily basis, and they can transform it into the stadium. What I’ve seen in the last few days is amazing and it’s been a joy to watch and be a part of it.
“It’s amazing to have a full Wembley and I will be a bit nervous but that’s part of it, I’m always a bit nervous before matches so this will not be different. I’m excited and hopefully we can prove the point and take the first step.
“I feel the pressure, but I feel it as a privilege. In my coaching career, I’ve adapted to that and found methods to cope with it.”
