Tuchel’s Three Lions Roar: A Flawless Journey to World Cup Glory

Albania 0-2 England

This match was not merely a routine victory for England, contrary to what some may have assumed about Thomas Tuchel’s approach. The Three Lions had dominated the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, winning all seven matches and scoring 20 goals without conceding. However, securing a win and a clean sheet against Albania in Tirana in their final group match allowed them to become the first European team to win at least six World Cup qualifiers without conceding. Tuchel, ever the perfectionist, anticipated nothing less. Harry Kane’s late brace confirmed a historic 2-0 victory, raising eyebrows among England’s competitors.

Achieving a clean sweep in European qualifying isn’t common; only four nations have accomplished it, disregarding the early years of World Cup qualifying. West Germany in 1982, Spain (2010 finalists), the Netherlands, and Germany in 2018 were the only precedents. Currently, Spain and Norway are potential candidates to join this exclusive group but still have fixtures left to play.

Tuchel’s success also relied on the clubs that released their players for international duty, resting regulars like Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Reece James, Elliot Anderson, and Jordan Pickford. Yet, he fielded a strong lineup, with key players like Kane, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham determined to create history. Rather than being complacent, Tuchel took this match seriously, aiming to prove that England not only felt invincible but also had the statistics to back it up.

England controlled the first half, holding 76% possession, but struggled to create clear opportunities due to a disjointed 3-2-2-3 formation. Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze played out wide but weren’t effectively utilized as wing-backs. Despite being goalless at halftime, England maintained their clean sheet aspirations. Preventing Albania from scoring would mark their second World Cup qualification without conceding, a feat last achieved in 1990 under Bobby Robson, even though that team didn’t win all their matches as Tuchel’s players have done.

In what seemed like a formality, Tuchel’s side looked poised to win throughout the match, even with the score tied at 0-0 in the 73rd minute. He substituted Saka and Marcus Rashford late in the match but kept Kane on the field, which paid off when the captain netted two quick goals in the final minutes, bringing his tally to eight goals in eight WCQ matches.

England has not lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009 and boasts a remarkable 39-game unbeaten streak in this context, which will carry over until the start of the 2030 campaign. Claiming to be unbeatable is one thing, but England has truly demonstrated their dominance. As the teams prepare to cross the Atlantic to compete in the USA, Mexico, and Canada in seven months, Tuchel’s squad will undoubtedly be among the teams to watch.