Thomas Tuchel began his time as England manager positively on Friday. His team secured a 2-0 victory against Albania in their first World Cup qualifying match, with goals in each half.
Myles Lewis-Skelly had a fantastic senior debut. He scored the first goal after 19 minutes of England’s strong start, running behind the defense to receive a pass from Jude Bellingham and score his first international goal.
England could have scored more in the first half. Harry Kane had a shot blocked on the goal line, and Dan Burn, also making his debut, came close with a powerful header. Albania played better after halftime, finding ways to get around England’s pressing and trying to attack with their wingers on fast breaks.
However, when the game became tense at Wembley, Harry Kane calmed things down. He controlled a cross from Declan Rice with a great first touch, moved the ball into position, and then scored his 70th goal for England into the corner of the net.
Tuchel will face tougher challenges later. Over time, we should expect a more developed game plan from him, rather than something similar to Gareth Southgate’s usual qualifying match strategies. But for now, there were some interesting changes and improvements in this game.
1. England’s Energetic Start
Even before the match started, you could see Thomas Tuchel’s influence in England’s play, bringing in a Premier League style. Kane and Bellingham positioned themselves aggressively near the halfway line. Bellingham’s early movement forced a restart, but the next time, England quickly pressured Albania, forcing them to kick the ball long.
While attacking tactics were subtle in the beginning against a deep defending Albania team, England showed more energy. Tuchel’s team chased the ball aggressively when they lost possession. Declan Rice quickly moved forward to block a clearance attempt, and Phil Foden made a strong sliding tackle to regain the ball. Even Kane worked hard to block passing options.
This high-energy approach is a noticeable change from Southgate’s England. In tournaments, they often defended deeper, which was effective in reaching later stages of competitions. However, this could also slow down their play against weaker teams, making it harder to move the ball quickly. In this game, England’s energetic play without the ball seemed to boost their attacking play as well.
Tuchel said he was happy with the team’s start and structure, especially in controlling Albania’s counter-attacks. He noted their organized approach to finding openings.
Ninety minutes wasn’t enough to completely remove England’s slower habits, and tiredness in the second half allowed Albania more chances to attack. Ezri Konsa’s excellent defending prevented a potential equalizing goal. It’s also worth considering how England will maintain this intensity in hot conditions in future tournaments. But for this game, the focus was on setting a new tone and bringing a more dynamic style to England’s game, which Tuchel’s team achieved.
2. Bellingham Impresses, Pressure on Foden
England’s attacking play showed promising signs under Tuchel. Curtis Jones and Rice provided a solid base for Bellingham to perform freely. Bellingham, known for his all-around game at Real Madrid, proved his right to roam.
Against Albania, Bellingham focused more on creating and moving the ball forward rather than disrupting play. He often dropped deep to pass to the wings or drive into the Albanian defense. Tuchel mentioned in the press conference that he wanted more of this, especially the pass that set up Lewis-Skelly’s goal.
However, the same dynamism was missing on the wings. Foden, in particular, had another quiet game. While he worked hard defensively and linked up well with Jones at times, he didn’t have any shots or create any chances, and had very few touches in the penalty area compared to other forwards.
Tuchel commented that both wingers, Foden and Marcus Rashford, weren’t as effective as they usually are for their clubs. He said they would encourage Foden to use his dribbling skills more from the right wing position.
England has been patient with Foden’s talent, but he has now played 43 games for his country. In only a few of those games has he performed close to his level for Manchester City. With Bukayo Saka set to return and Cole Palmer also competing for a spot, Foden needs to step up.
If Saka secures the right-wing position and Bellingham continues to play well, the only open spot might be on the left wing, where Foden struggled at the Euros. Tuchel is aware of Foden’s past struggles on the left. Time may be running out for Foden to prove he deserves a regular place in the team.
3. Left-Back Problem Solved?
Just when it seemed England had yet another left-back problem, in a position where only Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw have truly excelled recently, a special young player has emerged. Myles Lewis-Skelly, the youngest player to score on his England debut, played at Wembley with confidence, just like he has for his club.
It was only recently that Erling Haaland reportedly asked about Lewis-Skelly’s identity. Since then, Lewis-Skelly has impressed, potentially overtaking experienced players to become Arsenal’s main left-back. He has responded strongly to challenges, handled media attention, and quickly earned a place in the England team. This is impressive for someone who hadn’t played left-back until recently, when Mikel Arteta put him there in preseason.
Declan Rice, Lewis-Skelly’s Arsenal teammate, described him as fearless, praising his off-pitch behavior and confidence despite being only 18, predicting his strong performance.
It seems very promising for Lewis-Skelly. While it’s early to define an 18-year-old’s permanent position, there’s a strong case for both Arsenal and England to keep him at left-back. He can contribute significantly to the game from that position. Leading up to his goal, Lewis-Skelly positioned himself in various roles: left of a back three, a wing-back, and even an inside forward. This versatility made it hard for Albania to anticipate the threat.
When Tuchel wanted to add more attacking presence, he moved Lewis-Skelly into midfield to take more risks and get closer to other players. From left-back, England gained a player who could defend, progress the ball, and act as a midfielder, all in one. There will likely be debates about whether to move Lewis-Skelly back to midfield, like with Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, his consistent positive impact from left-back is clear. Why change what’s working so well?
