Myles Lewis-Skelly became England’s youngest-ever goalscoring debutant as the Thomas Tuchel era started with a win against Albania.
Having been named Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor in October and starting the role on New Year’s Day, the German head coach took charge for the first time in the World Cup qualifier as the road to North America next summer got under way.
Tuchel’s reign began with a 2-0 victory against a limited Albania team thanks to debutant Lewis-Skelly’s historic opener and Harry Kane’s record-extending 70th goal for England in front of a sell-out Wembley crowd.
Far tougher tests lie ahead but the new boss will have liked most of what he saw during his first match in the hot seat.
Lewis-Skelly repaid Tuchel’s faith when meeting a superb Jude Bellingham pass with a fine finish, becoming the youngest England player to score on his debut at the age of 18 years and 176 days.
Fellow debutant Dan Burn rattled the crossbar five days on from his Carabao Cup final goal for Newcastle at Wembley, before Kane added a deserved second late on for the No.4 ranked team.
“Welcome to the home of football, Thomas,” read a giant banner as the teams emerged for a match Tuchel’s side started on the front foot, enjoying 75 per cent of possession in the opening period.
That figure reached 88 per cent at some points, such was the way they passed and moved the ball, but there was a lack of cutting edge during a promising start.
Bellingham looked most likely to prise open obdurate Albania and provided the killer pass that did just that in the 19th minute, slipping Lewis-Skelly behind to slot through the goalkeeper’s legs.
England manager Thomas Tuchel. (Photo by Fantasista/Getty Images)
The 18-year-old, who only made his Arsenal debut in September, slid on his knees in celebration and was surrounded by his teammates after England’s first goal under Tuchel.
Towering defender Burn found space to meet a Declan Rice corner with a header that rattled the bar just before the break, with Kane glancing a header wise as England sought another goal during a solid start to the second half.
Tuchel made a triple change – including taking off Marcus Rashford after winning his first cap since last March – after a header went wide from Kane, who settled any nerves in the 77th minute.
Arlind Ajeti failed to cut out Rice’s cross and England’s all-time top scorer masterfully took the ball down before finding the bottom right-hand corner.
Lewis-Skelly left to a standing ovation late on as attention turns to Latvia.
In Friday’s other matches, Cyprus beat San Marino 2-0, Latvia defeated Andorra 1-0, Romania lost 1-0 to Boznia and Herzegovina, Poland (Robert Lewandowski, 81st) triumphed 1-0 over Lithuania while Malta went down 1-0 to Finland.
Newshttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/03/22/englands-tuchel-era-off-to-bang-as-teen-tyro-lewis-skelly-grabs-slice-of-history/England’s Tuchel era off to bang as teen tyro Lewis-Skelly grabs slice of history
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