England 2-0 Albania
by Layth Yousif 
at Wembley Stadium 

ARSENAL’S teenage prodigy Myles Lewis-Skelly scored on his England debut at Wembley Stadium to launch the Thomas Tuchel era in style. 

The Gunners’ precocious 18-year-old — who, six short months ago was still playing for the club’s academy sides — latched onto Jude Bellingham’s perceptive through-ball, to slot home left-footed past Albania keeper Thomas Strakosha with only 20 minutes gone at the national stadium for a dream first match for the national side. 

A second-half goal from captain Harry Kane sealed proceedings under the arch. 

While England fans greeted new Three Lions boss Tuchel with a tiresome banner that read, rather haughtily, “Welcome to the home of football Thomas,” the loud pre-match cheers for the north Londoners’ young gun was perhaps more in keeping with a fresh new start after the country’s national team reached the finals of the last two European Championships, but is now greedily eyeing the biggest trophy of all across the pond in a little more than 15 months. 

The progressive Tuchel also handed an England debut to Newcastle’s English Football League Cup hero Dan Burn, who was unlucky to crash a second-half header against the Albanian bar, in front of 82,378 fans under Friday night lights in north-west London. 

Fairytale stories for both debutants at opposite ends of their careers, with 32-year-old Geordie Burn surely never topping the last few days after landing silverware here at the national stadium last weekend prior to his first call-up a mere 24 hours later. 

The Three Lions’ new boss also included Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, as well as Marcus Rashford in the starting XI, for his first call-up in a year, as the new era began in heartening fashion under the arch in north-west London. 

The early stages were notable for Rashford showing a nice understanding with Real Madrid’s young English midfielder by linking up well with Bellingham along the left, with Lewis-Skelly proving calm and reliable cover, both in defence and attack along the same flank. 

All of which was underlined when the imperious Bellingham displayed exactly how to unpick a low block, exchanging passes with the Arsenal youngster, before Lewis-Skelly coolly fired past Albania’s former Brentford keeper. 

Lewis-Skelly ran to the corner flag before falling to his knees, before being engulfed by his joyous team-mates, as Wembley erupted. There was even a smile from the canny Tuchel himself at the heartening scenes that the stadium and wide watching world had just witnessed. 

Speaking after the match, Tuchel was full of praise for the intelligent Arsenal youngster, who broke records by becoming the youngest goalscorer on his England debut at the tender age of 18 years and 167 days, saying: “He was amazing in camp. 

“Full of confidence, full of humour. You see everything on the pitch, off the pitch. He does it with a natural confidence. 

“That’s how he plays football. Full of courage and quality. He was decisive and opened this game for us.”

Albania, coached by former Gunner Sylvinho, are no pushovers, as witnessed by their obdurate performances against Italy, and eventual winners Spain during Euro 2024 in Germany, and could have equalised, when Jordan Pickford flapped at a ball, which struck the woodwork during an excruciating mix-up with the otherwise resilient if limited Burn. 

No matter. Despite the relentless cheers from the 6,000 travelling Albanian fans, England could have extended their lead five minutes before the interval, but Thomas Strakosha saved a Bellingham’s header after Kyle Walker’s cross, prior to Kane’s effort deflecting over the bar, as England went into the break 1-0 ahead. 

On the Albania bench was Chelsea’s Everton loanee, Slough-born Armando Broja, who came on in the second half to harry the less than mobile Burn. 

However, Tuchel’s England underlined their superiority when Kane scored the Three Lion’s second of the night — and a record-breaking 70th goal for his country — with a neat finish into the far corner with 16 minutes remaining to put the seal on an encouraging evening at the start of a journey that the country will hope culminates in lifting the famous golden trophy in New Jersey next summer. 

It should be an interesting ride. Next stop Latvia at Wembley on Monday evening.