England vs Albania predictions: Three Lions can show their class after the break
&w=707&quality=100)
- England are 7/1 to win the World Cup as they start qualification under Thomas Tuchel
- Albania drew with Croatia and suffered narrow losses to Italy and Spain at Euro 2024
- Recommended bet: Tie/England Half Time/Full Time
Winning the 2026 World Cup is the objective for England's new manager Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions take the first step on that journey with a home qualifier against Albania on Friday.
Tuchel's 18-month contract expires after next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA and England are prominent in the outright market along with Spain, Brazil and France.
Interim manager Lee Carsley led England to promotion to the top flight of the Nations League last year but the hosts should not take Albania lightly after their competitive displays at Euro 2024.
Team news
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White has replaced the injured Cole Palmer in England's squad while Bukayo Saka, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ollie Watkins, Lewis Hall and Harry Maguire are also sidelined.
The uncapped Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn are options to start at left-back while Thomas Tuchel has recalled veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson and forward Marcus Rashford.
Albania are missing Lazio full-back Elseid Hysaj due to a thigh injury. Fellow defender Mario Mitaj is set to undergo surgery on a groin problem and midfielder Keidi Bare and forward Mirlind Daku are injured.
The stats
&w=707&quality=100)
England scored 12 of their last 14 goals in the second half of matches.
Only two of the Three Lions' last 15 matches have produced over 3.5 goals.
England won four of their last six games to nil.
Three of Albania's last six defeats were by a 1-0 scoreline.
Both teams have scored in only one of Albania's last five games.
Albania have not scored a first-half goal in any of their last seven internationals.
Prediction
Albania's last away World Cup qualifier ended in a 5-0 defeat to England in November 2021, when the Three Lions scored all five of their goals before half-time.
Striker Harry Kane claimed a first-half hat-trick that day but Albania have progressed significantly since then and England may need to be patient at Wembley.
The Tie/England selection looks a good option in the Half Time/Full Time market as Albania have rarely been beaten by a wide margin during Sylvinho's spell in charge.
At Euro 2024 the former Arsenal full-back oversaw a 2-1 defeat to Italy, in which Albania took a first-minute lead, a 2-2 draw with Croatia and a 1-0 loss to Spain, who went on to beat England in the final.
Albania's six Nations League fixtures in the autumn produced only 10 goals and they enjoyed some creditable results, beating Ukraine 2-1 and Georgia 1-0 and holding the Czech Republic to a goalless draw.
England won five of their six Nations League games but the exception was a dismal 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish scored in the opening 26 minutes of Lee Carsley's first game against the Republic of Ireland but the Three Lions did most of their best work in the second half.
Only two of England's 14 goals in their last five internationals came before the break and November's 5-0 home win over the Irish was goalless until the 53rd minute.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
