England 2-0 Albania (Lewis-Skelly 20′, Kane 77′)
WEMBLEY STADIUM — England made a winning start under Thomas Tuchel with debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane on target against Albania.
Lewis-Skelly was one of two players – along with Dan Burn – to make his senior debut and he made an already special occasion even more memorable by scoring the opening goal.
It was a record-breaking strike too with the Arsenal left-back eclipsing Marcus Rashford‘s feat as the youngest player to score on their England debut aged 18 years and 176 days.
A much more familiar goalscorer made it two in the second half, with Kane netting clinically for his 70th international goal to get England’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign up and running.
Here’s how the players rated:
Jordan Pickford – 6/10
Played a few risky passes short as Albania pressed high in the second half. A new brief from Tuchel, perhaps? Didn’t have a single save to make all night.
Kyle Walker – 6/10
Came close to providing an assist with Jude Bellingham missing his cut-back from point-blank range with a header. That moment aside he lacked incision in the final third and may struggle to keep his place when Trent Alexander-Arnold returns.
Ezri Konsa – 8/10
Delivered an assured display alongside the debutant Burn. Calm in possession, strong in the air and covered for Burn superbly to make a vital tackle on Jasir Asani as he bore down on goal in one of Albania’s few attacks.
Dan Burn – 5/10
So close to a second Wembley goal in a week with a thumping header that cracked the crossbar. He hit his own bar too with a sliced clearance and lacked composure at times, heading the ball out of Pickford’s hands and catching Myrto Uzuni with a rash high boot. Caught out, in the air and on the floor, during the second half and had a mixed night overall.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8/10
Justified Tuchel’s faith with his goal. The teenager looked overcome with emotion as he celebrated in the corner after outmuscling Naser Aliji and calmly squeezing a shot through Thomas Strakosha’s legs. That moment aside he was accomplished on the ball and provided dynamism on the left flank. The left-back role is his to lose.
Myles Lewis-Skelly on his debut!
The first @England goal of the Thomas Tuchel era#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/y9BvWydGt8
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 21, 2025
Declan Rice – 7/10
Played in his favoured position as a No 6 with Bellingham and Curtis Jones higher up the pitch and was typically composed and sensible on the ball. Registered an assist for Kane’s goal with a hopeful cross that the striker made the absolute most of. Maybe Ange Postecoglou was onto something…
Curtis Jones – 6/10
Retained his starting spot after excelling in the brief Lee Carsley era. Made a bright start with his customary driving runs forward but his influence waned as the game wore on.
Jude Bellingham – 8/10
England’s action man. Weighted his assist for Lewis-Skelly to perfection and could have added a second with a clever cross to Kane who missed the target. Less clinical with his finishing, though, missing a one-on-one and a big chance with his head.
Phil Foden – 4/10
Deployed on the right wing and was on the periphery of the action despite trying to get involved. Now 24 and closing in on 50 caps, Foden has yet to reproduce his club form for his country. Tuchel will hope to solve a puzzle Gareth Southgate never could.
Marcus Rashford – 6/10
Made his first start for England since a 2-0 win over Malta in November 2023 and looked eager to make up for lost time by driving at the defence and working hard off the ball. Still doesn’t look quite up to speed after his Manchester United exile under Ruben Amorim.
Harry Kane – 7/10
Produced a vintage Kane finish to settle any nerves, with a low effort curled unerringly in off the far post. Left stunned by a heroic last-ditch block from Berat Djimsiti that denied him a first-half goal.
Substitutes:
Jarrod Bowen (on for Foden 74′)
Anthony Gordon (on for Rashford 74′)
Morgan Rogers (on for Bellingham 74′)
Jordan Henderson (on for Rice 82′)
Reece James (on for Lewis-Skelly 90′)
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