Lewis-Skelly Scores on Debut as England Begin Tuchel Era with Win Over Albania

England began the Thomas Tuchel era with a 2-0 victory over Albania in their 2026 World Cup qualifier at Wembley, although the performance was more functional than flamboyant. Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly marked his senior debut with a goal, becoming the youngest player to score on his England bow, while captain Harry Kane added a second-half strike.

Lewis-Skelly, aged 18 years and 176 days, broke Marcus Rashford’s record (set against Australia in May 2016) by 33 days. He opened the scoring in the 20th minute, sliding a composed finish past the Albanian goalkeeper after a perfectly weighted pass from Jude Bellingham.

Tuchel, succeeding Gareth Southgate, also handed a first cap to Newcastle defender Dan Burn, 32. Burn almost scored, heading against the crossbar in the first half.

Albania, adopting an ultra-defensive approach, frustrated England for long periods. Their increased attacking threat in the second half saw Ezri Konsa produce a superb block to deny Jasir Asani.

However, England responded immediately and sealed the victory in the 77th minute. Harry Kane scored his 70th goal in 104 international appearances, finishing from close range.

Solid Start for Tuchel, but Room for Improvement

While Tuchel will be pleased with the winning start, the performance lacked the “thrills and intensity” he had promised. Albania’s defensive tactics stifled England’s creativity, and the match lacked fluency.

Lewis-Skelly’s impressive debut was a major positive. The young Arsenal full-back displayed composure, made key interceptions, and capped his performance with a well-taken goal. His emergence provides Tuchel with a promising option for the future.

Marcus Rashford, recalled to the squad after a year’s absence, showed flashes of his ability in his link-up play with Bellingham, but lacked a decisive final product. Phil Foden, deployed on the right flank, struggled to make a significant impact and was substituted late on.

The victory provides a solid, if unspectacular, foundation for Tuchel’s reign. He now has time to gather further information on his squad before England’s next qualifier against Latvia, also at Wembley, on Monday. The focus will be on building a more fluid and incisive attacking performance while maintaining defensive solidity.