Fri Mar 21 19:10:00 UTC 2025: ## England Begin Tuchel Era with Dominant but Goalless First Half Against Albania
**London, England** – Thomas Tuchel’s reign as England manager kicked off with a goalless first half against Albania at Wembley Stadium. Despite dominating possession and creating several promising opportunities, the Three Lions failed to break the deadlock against a resolute Albanian defense.
The match marked the debuts of Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, while Marcus Rashford returned to the starting lineup. England controlled the tempo from the outset, with Jude Bellingham and Rashford combining effectively on several occasions down the left flank. However, a lack of precision in the final third prevented England from capitalizing on their dominance.
While chances were few and far between, Bellingham showcased his attacking prowess with a mazy run into the Albanian penalty area. Other promising moments included a near miss by Bellingham following a Konsa through-ball and several attempts by Walker down the right wing. Albania, however, maintained a disciplined defensive structure, frustrating England’s attacking efforts and keeping the score 0-0 at the halftime whistle.
Pre-match, Tuchel expressed excitement about his new role and highlighted the team’s attacking approach. Albanian assistant coach Pablo Zabaleta acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete. The match is the first in England’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
First Piper 