![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ssbet-web-banner_aug2025.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nKane struck twice in the closing stages as Thomas Tuchel’s made history in Tirana.<\/p>\n
After an eighth successive Group K victory, England are the first European side to go through a World Cup qualifying campaign of at least six matches with an 100 per cent record and no goals conceded.<\/p>\n
They are the first European team to win all their World Cup qualifiers since Germany in 2018.<\/p>\n
England have not lost a World Cup qualifier in 39 games since 2009 when they were beaten 1-0 in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
They scored 22 goals and allowed none in a perfect path to next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n
Spain, like England yet to concede a goal, and Norway have also won all their qualifiers. Both have one game left.<\/p>\n
England’s run of 10 consecutive competitive wins without conceding a goal equals Spain’s European record.<\/p>\n
The Three Lions also end 2025 with their highest win per centage in a calendar year since 1946 \u2013 nine victories from 10 games under Tuchel featuring only one blemish in a friendly loss to Senegal in June.<\/p>\n
Ending the year in an England shirt with a win and a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n
A big 2026 coming up and we\u2019ll be giving it our everything. \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f pic.twitter.com\/YZlWrNDR4U<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Harry Kane (@HKane) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “Nice match. I love it. Today was difficult, emotional. We were full in control, then suddenly lost some control and had to overcome difficult moments,” Tuchel said.<\/p>\n “I felt we were invested but also it was difficult to break them down. It needed one little moment, a set piece or a moment of magic, to open the match.<\/p>\n “So much good stuff and quality to see the game out. Everyone is happy and they fully deserved it.”<\/p>\n Tuchel started his reign with a 2-0 win against Albania in March and the same opponents book-ended a memorable first year in charge for the German.<\/p>\n Although England wrapped up their World Cup place in October, they followed Tuchel’s demand to stay focused, beating Serbia on Thursday and dispatching obdurate Albania.<\/p>\n Far sterner tests lie in in wait at the World Cup but Tuchel has recovered from a sluggish start to his reign to provide genuine belief that England can win a major trophy for the first time since 1966.<\/p>\n By the time they return to action with two friendlies in March, Tuchel will know who England will face at the World Cup after the draw in Washington on December 5.<\/p>\n FINISH WITH A FLOURISH<\/p>\n Tuchel made seven changes as he brought Jude Bellingham back into the starting line-up for the first time since June after restricting him to a substitute appearance against Serbia.<\/p>\n Although England enjoyed over 70 per cent of the possession, they found it hard to carve open Albania, on an eight-match unbeaten run that ranked as their best in 15 years.<\/p>\n Sylvinho’s combative side nearly snatched a shock lead when Elseid Hysaj curled just over from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n Left out of the October internationals, Bellingham had a point to prove to Tuchel as he fights for starting berth at the World Cup after Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers impressed in his absence.<\/p>\n The Real Madrid midfielder’s contribution was patchy until he drove forward to set up Jarrod Bowen for a low strike that Thomas Strakosha pushed around the post.<\/p>\n Kane said on Saturday that England want to build an NFL-style playbook to help make the most of set-pieces at the World Cup.<\/p>\n Fittingly, the England captain, a noted NFL fan, struck from a set-piece in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked into the six-yard box and Kane tapped in after Strakosha failed to gather.<\/p>\n The Bayern Munich striker wasn’t done yet and he netted again in the 82nd minute to make it 78 goals for England in 112 appearances.<\/p>\n Marcus Rashford’s cross was perfectly weighted for Kane to thump his header past Strakosha from five yards, concluding England’s campaign with a flourish.<\/p>\n The perfect @FIFAWorldCup<\/a> qualifying campaign \u2705<\/p>\n On we go to 2026 \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/1LK1fyma1q<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 England (@England) November 16, 2025<\/a>
\n