England v Albania predictions: Three Lions can take huge step towards World Cup

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for England v Albania in World Cup qualifying Group I on Friday.

Where to watch

ITV, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

England to win & under 3.5 goals
2pts 3-4 Betfred

Team news

England
Luke Shaw (concussion) and Mason Mount (dental surgery) are doubts. James Ward-Prowse and Declan Rice are out due to illness.

Albania
Armando Broja and Berat Djimsiti are sidelined with injuries.

Match preview

Confirmation of England's safe passage to Qatar 2022 has always seemed only a matter of time and the Three Lions can maintain control of Group I by delivering a low-scoring success over Albania at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate's side are three points ahead of second-placed Poland and five clear of Albania, who are attempting to reach a World Cup finals for the first time in their history.

Given that England end qualifying with a trip to San Marino on Monday, their only real concern would be the possibility of a shock defeat to Albania, which would give Poland the chance to move into top spot before the final round of matches.

Defeat seems highly unlikely but Southgate will be respectful of a side who took six points off Hungary – something England were unable to achieve - and are enjoying a good spell under 76-year-old Italian head coach Edoardo Reja, who picked up the reins in April 2019.

Reja has won 12 of his 25 matches in charge and will have learnt lots from his team's 2-0 home defeat to England in March when his side were undone by goals from Mason Mount and Harry Kane.

Reja's side have scored 11 goals in eight qualifiers – less than half England's 24-goal total – and their offensive threat is reduced by the absence of injured Southampton striker Armando Broja, who has scored twice in his last three Premier League appearances.

Without Broja, Albania's chances will rest on defensive discipline and they have the ability to put up stiff resistance.

Albania's first-choice back four – right-back Elsaid Hysaj, centre-backs Ardian Ismajli and Marash Kumbulla and left-back Frederic Veseli – ply their trade in Serie A and will not be fazed by a star-studded Three Lions attack.

Southgate has plenty of star names to choose from, but very few of his offensive players are playing at the peak of their powers at present.

Kane continues to struggle for Tottenham, where he has netted once in ten league appearances this season, and Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish weren't part of the Manchester City side who cruised to a 2-0 derby success last Saturday.

All three started last month's disjointed 1-1 draw at home to Hungary and they are not certain to flourish against the Albanians, who have the second-best defensive record in the section.

Albania have conceded two goals or fewer in seven of their eight group fixtures and, while a clean sheet may elude them at Wembley, they should keep the scoreline respectable.

Key stat

Six of Albania's last seven competitive away games have featured fewer than three goals.

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