England kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign under new boss Thomas Tuchel with a 2-0 win over Albania, but the excitement was kept at bay by a lackluster display from both teams.
Tuchel made several changes to Southgate’s setup, including giving Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly his debut and selecting physical defender Dan Burn ahead of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. The decision paid off with Lewis-Skelly scoring the first goal of Tuchel’s reign in the 32nd minute.
However, Albania’s strategy to build low blocks and frustrate England ultimately failed to pay off, as they conceded several corners but were unable to create clear chances. The visitors’ reluctance to leave their own half allowed England to dominate possession, with 34 touches in the Albanian box compared to just 4.
Tuchel was visibly enthusiastic during the game, breaking into applause when England pressurized Albania into errors and expressing his desire for more intensity and ball recoveries. However, he remained calm and measured on the touchline, taking regular breaks from the action.
The win was a result of a single goal from Lewis-Skelly’s pass, with Tuchel delivering instructions to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after the score came in. Despite some promising moments for England, including a superb covering tackle by Ezri Konsa, the game was largely uneventful and did not showcase any major changes to Southgate’s setup.
Tuchel has set his team a clear goal: win. While there is still work to be done to build intensity and cohesion, this 2-0 victory gives him a positive start to his England career.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy0dj4j2zj6o