Harry Kane scores a superb hat-trick as England brush aside Albania to put themselves on the brink of qualification for next year’s World Cup.
The hosts were unstoppable in a sublime first half and opened the scoring after nine minutes when Manchester United defender Harry Maguire headed home Reece James’ delivery.
Kane get then got his first of the night when he headed in Jordan Henderson’s cross before the latter produced a composed finish for only his second England goal.
Albania continued to fall apart as they struggled to cope with England’s attack and the fourth goal duly arrived when Raheem Sterling and Kane combined to open up the defence before the Tottenham striker smashed the ball into the far corner of the net.
That goal took Kane onto 38 in 55 competitive games – moving him above Wayne Rooney as having scored more competitive goals for England than anyone else.
But he saved his best finish of the half for his hat-trick goal just before the break when he acrobatically volleyed in at the far post to make it 5-0.
That put him level with Jimmy Greaves on 44 goals scored for England in all competitions. He needs nine more to equal Rooney’s all-time record of 53 goals.
England now need just one more point to assure qualification from Group I for the World Cup in Qatar next year. Gareth Southgate’s side are at San Marino on Monday.
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
England
Starting XI
Avg
-
Squad number1Player namePickfordAverage rating
6.69
-
Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating
5.98
-
Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
6.34
-
Squad number6Player nameMaguireAverage rating
6.39
-
Squad number4Player nameJamesAverage rating
7.28
-
Squad number8Player nameHendersonAverage rating
7.61
-
Squad number7Player namePhillipsAverage rating
6.91
-
Squad number3Player nameChilwellAverage rating
6.39
-
Squad number11Player nameFodenAverage rating
6.64
-
Squad number9Player nameKaneAverage rating
7.69
-
Squad number10Player nameSterlingAverage rating
6.21
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number12Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
6.52
-
Squad number14Player nameGrealishAverage rating
5.61
-
Squad number17Player nameAbrahamAverage rating
5.07
-
Squad number18Player nameBellinghamAverage rating
5.97
-
Squad number19Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
6.17
Albania
Starting XI
Avg
-
Squad number23Player nameStrakosha
Average rating4.47
-
Squad number18Player nameIsmajli
Average rating4.50
-
Squad number15Player nameKumbulla
Average rating4.43
-
Squad number5Player nameVeseli
Average rating4.37
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Squad number4Player nameHysaj
Average rating4.40
-
Squad number8Player nameGjasula
Average rating4.38
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Squad number7Player nameBare
Average rating4.27
-
Squad number20Player nameTrashi
Average rating4.59
-
Squad number11Player nameUzuni
Average rating4.53
-
Squad number16Player nameCikalleshi
Average rating4.50
-
Squad number10Player nameBajrami
Average rating4.33
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number6Player nameDermaku
Average rating4.94
-
Squad number13Player nameMihaj
Average rating4.94
-
Squad number14Player nameLaci
Average rating4.82
-
Squad number17Player nameRamadani
Average rating5.04
-
Squad number21Player nameRoshi
Average rating5.28
Line-ups
England
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Pickford
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 6Maguire
- 4JamesSubstituted forAlexander-Arnoldat 77’minutes
- 8Henderson
- 7PhillipsSubstituted forBellinghamat 64’minutes
- 3Chilwell
- 11FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 63’minutes
- 9KaneSubstituted forAbrahamat 63’minutes
- 10SterlingSubstituted forSmith Roweat 77’minutes
Substitutes
- 12Alexander-Arnold
- 13Johnstone
- 14Grealish
- 15Mings
- 16Coady
- 17Abraham
- 18Bellingham
- 19Smith Rowe
- 20Saka
- 22Ramsdale
Albania
Formation 3-4-3
- 23Strakosha
- 18IsmajliBooked at 25mins
- 15KumbullaSubstituted forDermakuat 17’minutes
- 5Veseli
- 4Hysaj
- 8GjasulaBooked at 8mins
- 7BareSubstituted forLaciat 12’minutesBooked at 67mins
- 20TrashiSubstituted forMihajat 45’minutes
- 11UzuniSubstituted forRoshiat 86’minutes
- 16CikalleshiBooked at 21mins
- 10BajramiSubstituted forRamadaniat 45’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Berisha
- 2Hoxhallari
- 3Lenjani
- 6Dermaku
- 9Çekiçi
- 12Selmani
- 13Mihaj
- 14Laci
- 17Ramadani
- 19Balaj
- 21Roshi
- 22Doka
- Referee:
- Felix Zwayer
Live Text
Match ends, England 5, Albania 0.
Full Time