In a highly anticipated debut, England's new coach Thomas Tuchel prepares to face Albania at Wembley on March 21, 2025, as both teams kick off their qualifying campaigns for the 2026 World Cup. With Tuchel stepping in to replace Gareth Southgate, expectations are high, and Albania's coach Sylvinho recognizes the monumental challenge his team faces.
Tuchel, a renowned manager known for his success with Chelsea, where he clinched the Champions League title in 2021, is ready to leverage the depth and quality of his England squad. Speaking at a press conference before the match, Sylvinho remarked, “Thomas Tuchel is a good coach. He’s young, he’s a winner, and has a lot of energy.” The praise echoes the challenges awaiting them on the pitch.
England's lineup features prominent stars such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Marcus Rashford, who will aim to deliver a commanding performance in front of their home crowd. Sylvinho stressed his respect for the English side, noting, “It doesn’t matter if he plays a back three or four; we expect something but I am not going to talk too much.” Instead, the focus will be on how his players perform against a highly competitive team.
As fans eagerly await kickoff at 20:45, Sylvinho has settled on a 4-3-3 formation, hoping it will be enough to counter the attacking threats posed by England's forwards. The Albanian coach confirmed that their starting lineup would include Thomas Strakosha in goal, with a defense formed by Ivan Balliu, Naser Aliji, Arlind Ajeti, and Berat Gjimshiti. Midfield duties will fall to Kristjan Asllani, Qazim Laçi, and Ylber Ramadani, providing a blend of youth and experience.
In the attacking third, the coach looks to wing players Nedim Bajrami and Jasir Asani to deliver pace and creativity, while Myrto Uzuni spearheads their hopes of scoring. Sylvinho expressed optimism about his youngsters, especially with the inclusion of 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in Tuchel’s England squad, who has had a breakout season with Arsenal. “He’s a good player, I love it when young players come through the national team and start playing in a team like Arsenal,” he commented.
While Albania is determined to leave a mark as they pursue their dream of World Cup qualification, they also have their eyes set on their next match against Andorra on March 24, 2025. “I believe that dreams are not impossible,” Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti remarked. His words reflect the aspirations shared by his teammates as they step onto the world stage, competing for a spot in their first-ever World Cup.
As the atmosphere thickens with anticipation, fans from both nations hope to see their teams rise to the occasion. For England, it's about establishing dominance in qualifying. For Albania, it’s the chance to send a message that they can compete with Europe's elite. As kickoff approaches, Sylvinho and Tuchel are poised to make their tactical statements, with nothing less than victory in both their sights.
