England vs Albania Preview, Prediction, Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Thomas Tuchel leads England out for the first time against Albania in World Cup qualifying on Friday evening, and we’ve got the latest team news and lineups included in our preview ahead of the action.

England vs Albania Preview

The Three Lions kickstart the Thomas Tuchel era with a home clash against Albania in World Cup qualifying on Friday.

Drawn into Group K alongside the Albanians, Andorra, Latvia and Serbia, England are rated as 1/6 favourites by the best football betting sites in the UK to top the group, which would secure qualification to next summer’s finals.

They head into this one off the back of a hugely successful Nations League campaign, having topped their League B group with five wins from six, thus confirming promotion back up to League A at the first time of asking.

Lee Carsley took charge of those games in an interim capacity, and despite the Irishman impressing for the most part, he has returned to his management role with the Three Lions’ under-21 side.

Their most recent outing, back in November, ended in a comfortable 5-0 home win over Ireland, with Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis chipping in with a goal apiece.

Friday: the start of our @FIFAWorldCup qualifying campaign! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZB7na4WQ43

— England (@England) March 19, 2025

Not quite in such good form, Kuqezinjtë managed just two wins in their Nations League group, which contained the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Georgia, and suffered direct relegation down to League C.

Managed by former Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona left-back Sylvinho since 2023, they last faced off against England in 2021, also in World Cup qualifying. The Three Lions claimed a 2-0 victory in Tirana in the first of two Group I meetings before a 5-0 triumph at Wembley almost eight months later.

England Team News

Tuchel’s maiden Three Lions squad announcement saw both Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford return to the fold, while there were first call-ups for Newcastle United and Arsenal defenders Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Cole Palmer, meanwhile, was forcibly withdrawn through injury and has since been replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White.

Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Kane look to be the most-nailed on starters. Phil Foden and Kyle Walker also look likely to start, and Gordon could battle it out with Rashford for the left-wing spot.

Albania Team News

As for the visitors, they are without Lazio right-back Elseid Hysaj and Al-Ittihad left-back Mario Mitaj due to injury.

Everton striker Armando Broja, who was born and raised in England, is back in the Albania squad after missing out on November’s internationals, and the same can be said for Sivasspor forward Rey Manaj.

Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti is set to lead his country out as captain, with fellow Serie A defender Ardian Ismajli likely to be his partner in central defence. Also expect Inter Milan star Kristjan Asllani to start in midfield.

England vs Albania Confirmed Lineups

England Lineup:

Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Jones, Rice; Foden, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane

Albania Lineup:

Strakosha; Balliu, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Aliji; Asllani, Ramadani, Laci; Asani, Uzuni, Bajrami

England vs Albania Prediction

The UK’s best betting sites have England as huge favourites to come out on top in Tuchel’s first outing at around 1/7, while a draw is rated at around 7/1 and a shock victory for Albania is priced at around 16/1.

Predicting results for a team who have appointed a new manager isn’t always easy, but the sheer quality available in the Three Lions squad makes this one fairly straightforward in our opinion. We expect Kane and co. to combine and inspire a new-look England side to a comfortable win, but we don’t expect them to blow their opponents out of the water.

Prediction: England 2-0 Albania