Invincible England make history: Tuchel leads historic World Cup qualifying campaign

Albania 0-2 England 

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Those who suggested this would be a victory lap for England clearly do not know Thomas Tuchel very well. The Three Lions, as many expected, had cruised through qualifying for the 2026 World Cup without requiring second gear – winning all seven of their matches and scoring 20 goals without reply. However, a victory and a clean sheet against Albania in Tirana in their final group match would ensure they became the first European nation to win at least six World Cup qualifying matches without conceding a goal. And the demanding German tactician expected nothing less, as Harry Kane’s late double sealed a historic 2-0 win that will raise some eyebrows among England’s rivals.

A clean sweep of victories on its own is something rarely seen in European qualifying. Only four nations have ever achieved it, if you ignore the early years of World Cup qualifying where there were very few nations to play. West Germany in 1982, 2010 finalists Spain and the Netherlands, and Germany in 2018 were the only previous teams to lock down that particular feat. In this qualifying campaign, Spain and Norway are the only other teams on course to join them but still have games to play. England were also bidding to become the first European team ever to win all of their qualifying games (minimum of six) without conceding.

Of course, Tuchel owed some gratitude to the clubs who provided their players for international duty and obliged by benching regulars such as Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Reece James, Elliot Anderson and Jordan Pickford. But he still fielded a strong side, featuring captain Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, with their focus firmly fixated on making history. Far from being complacent, Tuchel took this game seriously with his lineup. After all, it would send a message to the other contenders that England were invincible – not just in spirit, but with the statistical proof to back it up.

England dominated the first-half possession with 76 per cent of the ball but struggled to muster opportunities in a disjointed 3-2-2-3 setup, with Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze in wide positions but not quite recognised as wing-backs. England looked a little unsure of themselves and went into the interval goalless, although their clean sheet record remained intact. Preventing Albania from scoring would mean they would qualify for a World Cup for the second time without conceding and the first time since 1990 when Bobby Robson’s team did it. However, they didn’t win all of their games like Tuchel’s men.

And it was quite simply a procession for Tuchel’s side in a game they always looked like winning, even with the score at 0-0 with 73 minutes on the clock. He brought on Saka and Marcus Rashford late in the game but left on Kane, and received his reward. The captain delivered quick-fire goals in the final quarter of an hour to make it eight goals in as many WCQ games.

It means England haven’t lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009 and are now on a 39-game unbeaten run in that context, which will now be preserved until the 2030 campaign starts. To say you’re unbeatable is one thing, but England have walked the walk. As the teams head across the Atlantic to the USA, Mexico and Canada in seven months time, Tuchel’s side will undoubtedly represent one of the teams to fear.