From London, in a promising start to Thomas Tuchel’s era as England’s head coach, the national team secured a comfortable 2-0 victory against Albania in their World Cup qualifier opener. Myles Lewis-Skelly, in his first senior international appearance, delivered a memorable performance, marking the dominant opening minutes with a goal. He skillfully positioned himself to receive a clever pass from Jude Bellingham, navigating through multiple defenders to score his debut goal for England.
During an energetic first half, England could have extended their lead, with Harry Kane narrowly missing a goal due to a goal-line block, and debutant Dan Burn’s powerful header also coming close. Albania, however, showed greater resilience after halftime, effectively maneuvering around England’s pressing tactics and attempting counter-attacks through their quick wingers.
As tension began to rise at Wembley, Harry Kane, a familiar and reliable presence, eased concerns. Controlling a precise cross from Declan Rice with an excellent first touch, Kane skillfully maneuvered the ball and then fired a low, accurate shot into the corner of the net, marking his 70th goal for England.
More challenging matches await Tuchel’s squad. With time, a more developed and distinct game plan is anticipated, moving beyond what seemed like a continuation of Gareth Southgate’s successful qualifying strategies. Nevertheless, this victory highlighted some noteworthy tactical modifications and insights.
1. Early Energy Boost from England
Even before kickoff, the influence of Thomas Tuchel’s Premier League approach on England was evident. Kane and Bellingham positioned themselves aggressively near the halfway line. Bellingham’s eagerness to press forward into Albania’s territory before the whistle indicated a proactive intent. This high energy from the start quickly forced Albania into a rushed clearance.
While subtle adjustments in possession were observed in the initial stages, England displayed increased dynamism in attacking a deep defensive setup. More significantly, Tuchel’s team aggressively pursued the ball after every turnover. Declan Rice’s quick advance to block an Albanian clearance and Phil Foden’s determined sliding tackle to regain possession highlighted this intensity. Even Harry Kane contributed with efforts to restrict passing lanes, despite not being known for high pressing in recent years.
This energetic approach represents a notable shift from Southgate’s England, especially in major tournaments where a more defensively oriented strategy was often employed. While effective in progressing deep into tournaments, it sometimes resulted in slower, less dynamic play against lower-ranked opponents. The initial high-energy approach under Tuchel suggests a more proactive and potentially more exciting style of play.
‘I was pleased with our initial play and structure, especially in managing their counter-attacks,’ Tuchel commented on their off-ball efforts. ‘We maintained structure and sought out openings.’
Ninety minutes wasn’t enough to completely eliminate 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 under high intensity, particularly in challenging conditions like those expected in future World Cups. However, this match was about establishing a new tone, integrating more of a domestic league style into England’s game, and Tuchel’s team made a positive first step.
2. Bellingham Shines, Foden’s Time May Be Limited
England’s attacking play showed encouraging signs under Tuchel. Curtis Jones and Rice provided a solid midfield base, allowing Bellingham to operate with freedom. Bellingham’s consistent high-level performances for Real Madrid have justified his role as a dynamic player both with and without the ball.
In this match, Bellingham focused more on progressing play and creating opportunities rather than disrupting opponents, a role he often plays at club level. He frequently dropped deep to distribute passes to the wings or drive forward into Albania’s defense. Tuchel acknowledged the need for more of this dynamism, particularly praising the pass that set up Lewis-Skelly’s goal.
However, similar dynamism was lacking on the flanks. Phil Foden, despite his defensive work rate and occasional link-ups with Jones, had another quiet game offensively. He recorded no shots, created no chances, and had limited touches in the penalty area compared to other forwards.
Tuchel’s assessment of Foden and Marcus Rashford was direct: ‘Both wingers were not as effective as they usually are for their clubs.’ Specifically on Foden, Tuchel stated, ‘We will encourage him to utilize his strengths, to take on defenders, to dribble, as we positioned him on the right wing today.’
Foden’s talent has been nurtured by England for some time, but after 43 caps, questions arise about his consistent impact at the international level compared to his performances for Manchester City. With Bukayo Saka set to return and Cole Palmer also in contention, Foden faces increasing competition for a starting role.
If Saka secures the right-wing position and Bellingham continues to excel, the left-wing becomes the primary open spot, where Foden previously struggled at the Euros. Tuchel is aware of Foden’s past difficulties in that position. Time might be running out for Foden to solidify his place in the England setup.
3. Left-Back Problem Solved?
Just when concerns about England’s left-back position resurfaced, a potentially exceptional talent has emerged. Myles Lewis-Skelly, the youngest player to score on his England debut, played at Wembley with remarkable composure and authority, mirroring his rapid rise at club level. It was only recently that Erling Haaland reportedly questioned Lewis-Skelly’s identity, but the football world is quickly recognizing his abilities.
Since his Premier League debut, Lewis-Skelly has potentially surpassed established players to become Arsenal’s preferred left-back. He has responded impressively to challenges, navigated media attention, and earned a swift promotion to the England team. Remarkably, he had not played left-back before Mikel Arteta assigned him the role in preseason.
‘He is fearless,’ commented Arsenal teammate Declan Rice. ‘He is exemplary off the field and still only 18. I anticipated this performance due to his confidence. He remains grounded, and this is just the beginning for him.’
It appears to be just the start. While it’s early to definitively assign the 18-year-old to one position, compelling arguments exist for both Arsenal and England to keep Lewis-Skelly at left-back. His versatility allows him to influence the game in multiple ways from that position. Leading up to his goal, Lewis-Skelly positioned himself in various roles – left of a back three in build-up, a wing-back pushing forward, and an inside forward in attack. This positional fluidity likely contributed to Albania overlooking the danger he posed.
When Tuchel aimed to add an extra attacker, he instructed Lewis-Skelly to move higher up, becoming an ‘eight’ to increase attacking risks. From left-back, Lewis-Skelly offers defensive midfield capabilities, ball progression, and defensive solidity – a versatile package. Debates may arise about whether to return him to midfield, but his consistent positive impact at left-back is undeniable. Why change what’s working so well?
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley