Terrific Myles Lewis-Skelly given best England player rating – but Thomas Tuchel and two stars get 4/10
Myles Lewis-Skelly was the star of the show on his England debut as his goal helped new boss Thomas Tuchel get off to a winning start. The Three Lions beat Albania 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on Friday night to get their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign off to the perfect start. Tuchel’s England career got off to a winning start as his side eased to victory over AlbaniaGetty Lewis-Skelly created England history with his opening first-half goalGetty Arsenal starlet Lewis-Skelly – making his England debut – fired England ahead in the 20th minute after being picked out brilliantly by Jude Bellingham. In doing so, the 18-year-old has become the youngest England star to find the back of the net on their senior debut for the national team. England captain Harry Kane then grabbed his customary goal in the 77th minute – beautifully controlling a Declan Rice cross before bending home into the bottom right corner. It’s the Bayern Munich centre forward’s 70th goal for the Three Lions and his 36th strike this season in all competitions for club and country [Bayern – 32 goals, England – four goals]. While England may not have been spectacular against FIFA’s 65th-ranked nation, Tuchel will be left encouraged by what he has seen ahead of Monday’s home clash against Latvia, live on talkSPORT. But who impressed for England in Tuchel’s first match in charge? talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham has rated and slated those that featured… ‘England’s best player’ Lewis-Skelly only made his Arsenal debut in September – and now he is arguably England’s first-choice left-back. Justifying his selection in the squad, the teenager has showed why he is being tipped as a future Gunners captain. Fearless in and out of possession, Durham awarded Lewis-Skelly an 9/10 rating – the highest of any England player. He said: “Terrific goal on debut, clever on the ball, strong in possession, a threat, easily England’s best player.” Lewis-Skelly was the standout player at Wembley against AlbaniaGetty Feel the Burn Like Lewis-Skelly, Newcastle centre-back Dan Burn was handed his first appearance – becoming England’s oldest debutante since Kevin Davies in October 2010. And the 32-year-old almost repeated his Wembley heroics from last weekend where he scored against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. But he saw his first-half header crash against the crossbar in what would have been a memorable moment for the popular defender. However, in the view of Durham, it wasn’t a performance that will convince Tuchel he is deserving of a regular starting spot. Giving a 4/10 rating, Durham remarked: “Got beaten for pace a few times, and even beaten in the air by Armando Broja. “Great story, but found it tough at England level.” Burn came agonisingly close to marking his England debut with a goalGetty Fode for thought Manchester City star Phil Foden may have felt Albania would represent the perfect opponent for him to get himself back in the goals. The 24-year-old hasn’t scored since January 25 and has struggled for consistency this term for the Citizens. Still, Tuchel started the versatile playmaker, but Foden ultimately looked a passenger for most of the match. His display saw him given a mere 4/10 rating by Durham. In a seven-word verdict of Foden, he stated: “Failed to impose himself in any way.” GettyFoden failed to impress against Albania as his poor form continues[/caption] Room for improvement Tuchel stressed before the Albania clash that he wanted to see a free-flowing England side that excited the fans. Having accused the Three Lions of looking ‘afraid’ under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, England certainly looked to always be on the front foot. Still, Durham was expecting more of England, with Tuchel a given four out of ten rating. He said of the German: “In the programme he said, ‘We want to excite our fans,’ but that didn’t happen. “Early days, we won, but it wasn’t great.” Adrian Durham's England player ratings Stating XI: Jordan Pickford – 6 Kyle Walker – 6 Ezri Konsa – 7 Dan Burn – 4 Myles Lewis-Skelly – 9 Curtis Jones – 6 Declan Rice – 6 Jude Bellingham – 7 Phil Foden – 4 Marcus Rashford – 5 Harry Kane – 7 Substitutes: Morgan Rogers – 5 Anthony Gordon – 5 Jarrod Bowen – 7 Reece James – N/A Jordan Henderson – N/A
Myles Lewis-Skelly was the star of the show on his England debut as his goal helped new boss Thomas Tuchel get off to a winning start.
The Three Lions beat Albania 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on Friday night to get their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign off to the perfect start.
Arsenal starlet Lewis-Skelly – making his England debut – fired England ahead in the 20th minute after being picked out brilliantly by Jude Bellingham.
In doing so, the 18-year-old has become the youngest England star to find the back of the net on their senior debut for the national team.
England captain Harry Kane then grabbed his customary goal in the 77th minute – beautifully controlling a Declan Rice cross before bending home into the bottom right corner.
It’s the Bayern Munich centre forward’s 70th goal for the Three Lions and his 36th strike this season in all competitions for club and country [Bayern – 32 goals, England – four goals].
While England may not have been spectacular against FIFA’s 65th-ranked nation, Tuchel will be left encouraged by what he has seen ahead of Monday’s home clash against Latvia, live on talkSPORT.
But who impressed for England in Tuchel’s first match in charge? talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham has rated and slated those that featured…
‘England’s best player’
Lewis-Skelly only made his Arsenal debut in September – and now he is arguably England’s first-choice left-back.
Justifying his selection in the squad, the teenager has showed why he is being tipped as a future Gunners captain.
Fearless in and out of possession, Durham awarded Lewis-Skelly an 9/10 rating – the highest of any England player.
He said: “Terrific goal on debut, clever on the ball, strong in possession, a threat, easily England’s best player.”
Feel the Burn
Like Lewis-Skelly, Newcastle centre-back Dan Burn was handed his first appearance – becoming England’s oldest debutante since Kevin Davies in October 2010.
And the 32-year-old almost repeated his Wembley heroics from last weekend where he scored against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
But he saw his first-half header crash against the crossbar in what would have been a memorable moment for the popular defender.
However, in the view of Durham, it wasn’t a performance that will convince Tuchel he is deserving of a regular starting spot.
Giving a 4/10 rating, Durham remarked: “Got beaten for pace a few times, and even beaten in the air by Armando Broja.
“Great story, but found it tough at England level.”
Fode for thought
Manchester City star Phil Foden may have felt Albania would represent the perfect opponent for him to get himself back in the goals.
The 24-year-old hasn’t scored since January 25 and has struggled for consistency this term for the Citizens.
Still, Tuchel started the versatile playmaker, but Foden ultimately looked a passenger for most of the match.
His display saw him given a mere 4/10 rating by Durham.
In a seven-word verdict of Foden, he stated: “Failed to impose himself in any way.”
Room for improvement
Tuchel stressed before the Albania clash that he wanted to see a free-flowing England side that excited the fans.
Having accused the Three Lions of looking ‘afraid’ under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, England certainly looked to always be on the front foot.
Still, Durham was expecting more of England, with Tuchel a given four out of ten rating.
He said of the German: “In the programme he said, ‘We want to excite our fans,’ but that didn’t happen.
“Early days, we won, but it wasn’t great.”
Adrian Durham's England player ratings
Stating XI:
Jordan Pickford – 6
Kyle Walker – 6
Ezri Konsa – 7
Dan Burn – 4
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 9
Curtis Jones – 6
Declan Rice – 6
Jude Bellingham – 7
Phil Foden – 4
Marcus Rashford – 5
Harry Kane – 7
Substitutes:
Morgan Rogers – 5
Anthony Gordon – 5
Jarrod Bowen – 7
Reece James – N/A
Jordan Henderson – N/A
