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Live Updates

Kick-off – Declan Rice passes it back to Henderson to launch long and the match has begun.

Two singers of smartly dressed gentlemen with mics guide us in performances of both national anthems. Classy.

Berat Djimsiti and Harry Kane head out with their flags. Kick-off in the English team’s final game of 2025 is imminent.

Seven games, seven wins, zero goals conceded. Easy as you like for England up to now in qualifying. Outside of this group, they’ve now kept 9 consecutive clean sheets in official matches – only two teams have achieved that in Europe previously.

The Spanish national team are the sole other side in European qualification still to let in a goal. For what it’s worth, the Liechtenstein team are the sole side still to find the net.

Team Updates

Bellingham is among 7 changes to the England side that beat Serbia on Thursday. Adam Wharton makes his first senior start in midfield alongside Bellingham and Rice.

Henderson takes over from Pickford in goal, while Jarell Quansah earns his debut at full-back, with Burn partnering John Stones in the centre of the backline.

Eze and Jarrod Bowen operate on the wings of Harry Kane in attack. Scott could earn his first appearance as a substitute.

Official Lineups

Albanian National Team (4-3-3): Thomas Strakosha; Hysaj, Ardit Ismajli, Berat Djimsiti, Aliji; Qazim Laci, Asllani, Ylber Ramadani; Nedim Bajrami, Uzuni, Hoxha.

England (Four-three-three): Dean Henderson; Jarell Quansah, Stones, Dan Burn, Festus O’Reilly; Rice, Adam Wharton, Jude Bellingham; Bowen, Kane, Eze.

Match Preview

So, you could call this a dead rubber. England sealed their spot at the upcoming World Cup a full month ago. Albania themselves secured a place in March’s qualifying playoffs with a victory against Andorra on the previous matchday.

However with the global finals just 7 months away and a handful of matches away, there is no such thing as a dead rubber for the England players aiming to convince Thomas Tuchel that they merit a spot on his flight to North America. Not even the likes of Bellingham and Phil Foden can be sure of a position in the team until it is announced in next May.

England have won on all three of their prior visits to Tirana, the latest being a two-nil win under Gareth Southgate on the path to securing qualification for the 2022 finals. That was during lockdown. Mason Mount scored. Phillips was in the engine room. Jesse Lingard came off the bench. Those were different times.

It’s a 5pm (GMT) start today at the national stadium. We’d like to hear your thoughts on how England have done in 2025 under Tuchel, how you anticipate them to fare at the World Cup and who you think should – or should not – be on that flight. Views from Albanian supporters are also welcome.