Harry Kane scored his first international goal since November 2019 as England overcame Albania to maintain their 100% start in the World Cup qualifiers.
On what was a tough surface in Tirana, England started slowly and Albania forward Myrto Uzuni missed a great chance to put his side in the lead, blazing over with the net at his mercy.
England’s first effort on target took 33 minutes to arrive, Kyle Walker firing a daisy-cutter straight at Albania keeper Etrit Berisha.
Just five minutes later, Captain Kane dove acrobatically to steer home a Luke Shaw cross from the left-hand side and put England in the lead.
Gareth Southgate backing Luke Shaw
Gareth Southgate said on Thursday that he knew his starting 11 for the Euro’s opener against Croatia but Shaw’s consistent performances at club level. His assist today means he is gradually becoming to rival Ben Chilwell for the left back spot in the team, after a couple of years in which Chilwell has made that spot his own.
He went close soon after too but could only hit the bar from six yards out following a Raheem Sterling cross.
England went in ahead at the break, but the first-half performance had been quite tepid and the two sides were separated only by a moment of quality from Kane.
A much-improved second half
The second half was a far more positive display and across the course of the game, England had 71% of the ball.
Albania didn’t have a single shot on target and it was largely a case of turn up and watch from afar for Nick Pope, who became the first England keeper to keep a clean sheet in his first six games.
You suspect he’ll be a bit busier when Robert Lewandowski arrives in town soon!
England received reward for their dominance when, in the 63rd minute Mason Mount coolly finished past Berisha to double the advantage.
The goal had been coming, Phil Foden had previously gone close but his effort was tipped on to the post by Berisha. The relief in the celebration was evident an it looked unlikely that Albania would catch England from two behind.
The game began to peter out once England went two up but Harry Kane did go close attempting to salvage something from a horrible Raheem Sterling miskick from just yards out, but ended up fouling a defender and receiving a yellow card in the process.
It wasn’t the prettiest game ever, and better performances will follow, but it’s a case of ‘job done’ and two from two for Southgate’s men. Attention now turns to the task of dismantling Lewandowski and Poland at Wembley on Wednesday. They are sure to provide a far sterner test than the opposition faced so far have.
