Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match.
The long-awaited debut of Thomas Tuchel as England manager will take place on Friday, with Albania as their first opponents. It’s clear that they will aim to seize control early at Wembley, boasting enough star power to secure a dominant victory.
England
In League B of the Nations League, England almost steamrolled through their opposition, slipping up only in a home defeat to Greece (1:2). Their other five matches ended in victories with an aggregate score of 15:1. Interim coach Lee Carsley successfully unlocked the squad’s potential, integrating young talents such as Joe Gomez, Tino Livramento, Morgan Rogers, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Thomas Tuchel is expected to field all his key stars in his first match, making an emphatic win the most likely outcome.
Albania
During the Nations League group stage, Albania made a decent attempt to challenge the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Georgia but ultimately finished last and were relegated to League C. In November, they generated just 1.98 xG across matches against the Czechs (0:0) and Ukraine (1:2), showing a clear lack of cutting edge in attack. The visitors are likely to stick to a direct 4-3-3 system, but beyond well-organised pressing, they have little to threaten England with.
England vs Albania Prediction
Since the turn of the century, England have beaten Albania four times, always by a margin of at least two goals. Their last meeting at Wembley in November 2021 ended in a 5:0 rout—expect a similarly dominant display this time around.
