Albania vs England Match Summary: Record Pursuit in Tirana on November 17
In the upcoming match between Albania and England, both teams have different stakes as they head to Tirana on November 17. While England has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Albania still has aspirations for the upcoming playoffs.
Match Background
England recently achieved a significant victory against Serbia, winning 2-0 at Wembley. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze secured this win, marking their seventh consecutive victory. Coach Thomas Tuchel’s side has not conceded a single goal in their last seven matches, scoring a total of 20 goals.
Albania’s Performance
- Albania has successfully positioned itself in second place in Group K.
- The team, led by coach Sylvinho, secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Andorra.
- With 14 points, Albania is four points ahead of Serbia.
This success has given Albania a positive outlook as they prepare for their match at the Kombetare Stadium against an ascending England team.
Key Statistics
In their last three encounters with England, Albania has struggled. They have lost each match without scoring a single goal, conceding nine goals in total. In their last face-off at Wembley, they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
England’s Historic Opportunity
The upcoming match in Tirana offers England a chance to create history. A win would not only mark their 11th consecutive victory in official competitions but also push them closer to becoming the second European team to achieve 10 consecutive wins without conceding a goal, following Spain’s record from 2014 to 2016.
Team Line-ups
Albania Likely Line-up
- Goalkeeper: Strakosha
- Defense: Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj
- Midfield: Asllani, Shehu
- Attack: Broja, Laci, Hoxha, Manaj
England Likely Line-up
- Goalkeeper: Pickford
- Defense: Spence, Konsa, Stones, Burn
- Midfield: Wharton, Rice
- Attack: Saka, Bellingham, Eze, Kane
Injury updates indicate that England may miss key players like Nick Pope, Anthony Gordon, and Marc Guehi, while Jude Bellingham’s participation remains uncertain.
Match Prediction
Given their recent forms and statistics, the prediction for the match is a narrow 1-0 victory for England, emphasizing their dominance as they hunt for a record at this significant fixture.
