Tuchel set for first England sport as new boss goals to maintain up 43-year document

Thomas Tuchel will take cost of his first sport as England supervisor this Friday because the Three Lions tackle Albania, stay on talkSPORT. 

Tuchel makes his bow on the touchline at Wembley in a World Cup 2026 qualifier after being named as Gareth Southgate’s successor.

The German begins the primary worldwide break of his tenure with two house video games, one towards Albania and the opposite towards Latvia. 

England might be hoping to make the right begin beneath their new boss, with these fixtures being the opening qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 

After one other defeat in a serious match closing final summer season, it’s now Tuchel’s job to guide the Three Lions in the direction of ending their 58 years of damage.

England vs Albania: An ideal 10 

Every of the final 10 everlasting England managers have received their first sport. 

It’s a streak lasting 43 years, all the best way again to 1982 when Sir Bobby Robson drew 1-1 with Denmark in his first sport in cost. 

There has solely ever been one Three Lions boss that misplaced their opening match. 

And that was Sir Alf Ramsey, whose aspect was overwhelmed by France in 1963, three years earlier than he masterminded England’s solely World Cup win.

So, Tuchel might be hoping to proceed the streak of England bosses profitable on debut, extending that document to the final 11 managers. 

He might be assured of a profitable begin within the World Cup qualifiers too, as Albania sit sixty fifth within the FIFA rankings, with the Three Lions fourth. 

England have additionally by no means misplaced to Albania earlier than, profitable all six of their conferences to this point.

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• England have received all six of their matches towards Albania, solely having a greater 100% win ratio towards Luxembourg (9/9), San Marino (8/8) and Malta (7/7).
• England are unbeaten of their final 31 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (W23 D8), the longest ongoing run of any European nation. Solely as soon as have the Three Lions misplaced their first qualifier of a marketing campaign (W13 D3), dropping 1-0 to Germany in October 2000 of their closing sport on the previous Wembley.
• Albania have solely scored one purpose in six conferences with England, an Altin Rraklli strike in a 3-1 defeat in March 2001. It’s their lowest goals-per-game fee (0.17) towards any nation they’ve confronted three or extra occasions.

England vs Albania: Crew information 

Cole Palmer has remained with Chelsea after selecting up an damage in coaching over the weekend and will not be becoming a member of the squad.

That has seen Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White referred to as as much as be part of the workforce after preliminary controversy over his omission.

Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford have been introduced again into the Three Lions fold by Tuchel after not that includes since earlier than Euro 2024. 

Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Dan Burn are set for senior worldwide debuts, with the latter coming off the again of a Carabao Cup triumph.

Right here’s the complete England squad for this worldwide break:

• Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley).
• Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, mortgage from Manchester Metropolis).
• Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Actual Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest).
• Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester Metropolis), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, mortgage from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).

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• Since Harry Kane made his first look in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in September 2016, solely Robert Lewandowski (25) and Cristiano Ronaldo (21) have netted extra qualifying objectives amongst European gamers than Kane (17 in 14 video games). The Bayern ahead has additionally been concerned in six objectives in two video games towards Albania (4 objectives, 2 assists).
• Jude Bellingham has been concerned in 10 objectives in his final 15 appearances for England (5 objectives, 5 assists). His subsequent look might be his forty first cap for the Three Lions, probably the most ever by a participant aged 21 or youthful, breaking Wayne Rooney’s document of 40 between 2003 and 2007.

England vs Albania: What has been stated? 

England followers should pump the brakes on their desires that Tuchel can ship the nation some long-awaited silverware.

That is the view of former Germany and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who believes his compatriot is mistaken for the function.

“For me, he isn’t a traitor,” Lehmann clarified on talkSPORT Drive after ex-Leicester star and Germany worldwide Robert Huth admitted he would not approve of an English supervisor being answerable for ‘Nationalelf’.

“For me, he’s very fortunate to get such an excellent job. There should be a purpose why he is not with Bayern Munich anymore. It’s totally troublesome to get sacked by Bayern Munich.

“However we’re glad for him that he is the English coach now.”

Nevertheless, regardless of Tuchel profitable 11 trophies all through his managerial profession, together with the Champions League, Lehmann believed he wouldn’t add to his haul as England boss.

“There is not any such factor like being referred to as a traitor,” Lehmann stated.

“I heard that for the primary time from Robert. I like Robert and like typically his clear views.

“It does not make England extra more likely to win something, but it surely’s good for him.”

“You need to have a look at Bayern Munich and the way they performed final season,” Lehmann continued on why England’s trophy probabilities haven’t been boosted with Tuchel in cost.

“You then’ll see it. In the event you perceive soccer, you will see it.”

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• England have received 16 of their final 17 internationals towards nations whose identify begins with A (D1), holding 15 clear sheets. The final ‘A’ nation to beat England was Australia at Upton Park again in February 2003, whereas in a aggressive match it was Argentina on the 1986 World Cup.
• Albania have by no means received a aggressive match towards a nation who’re within the top-10 of the FIFA World Rankings (D2 L17). Together with friendlies, they did beat France (ranked ninth) 1-0 in June 2015 because of a purpose from Ergys Kaçe.

England vs Albania: talkSPORT protection 

This World Cup 2026 qualifier will happen on Friday, March 21. 

Kick-off at Wembley is scheduled for 7:45pm. 

talkSPORT may have stay protection of the sport with Adrian Durham your host. 

Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England internationals Stuart Pearce and Darren Bent. 

To tune in to talkSPORT via the web site, click on HERE for the stay stream.

Hear by way of the talkSPORT app right here, or on DAB digital radio, via your good speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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The sport will even be broadcast stay and free-to-air on ITV and ITVX.