Thomas Tuchel Demands More from England Despite Unconvincing 2-0 Win Over Albania

England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted his team must “do better” after a lackluster 2-0 victory over Albania in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

The Three Lions secured the three points, but their performance left much to be desired as they struggled to break down a stubborn Albania side that defended deep for most of the game. Despite an early breakthrough from Myles Lewis-Skelly, England lacked the attacking sharpness Tuchel had demanded, prompting the German tactician to call for significant improvements ahead of their next game.

Tuchel, making his competitive debut as Three Lions boss, had hoped to mark the occasion with a statement performance, but England’s slow tempo, lack of creativity, and uninspiring movement off the ball made for a frustrating watch. While the result was never in serious doubt, the manner in which England labored to carve out clear-cut opportunities raised questions about the team’s attacking chemistry under their new manager.

Lewis-Skelly Impresses, but England Lacks Spark

A bright spot in England’s performance was the debut of Myles Lewis-Skelly, the Arsenal youngster who was handed a surprise start at left-back. The 18-year-old repaid Tuchel’s faith with a composed finish in the 20th minute, scoring his first international goal after a well-worked passing sequence.

Lewis-Skelly’s goal gave England an early lead, but instead of kicking on and dominating the game, Tuchel’s men found themselves slowed down by Albania’s defensive approach. The visitors sat deep in their own half, closing spaces and forcing England into sideways passing patterns that lacked urgency.

Despite dominating possession, the lack of penetration in the final third was evident. England struggled to break down Albania’s compact low block, with few attacking runs to stretch the defense. Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham showed flashes of individual brilliance, but there was little cohesion in England’s forward play.

Tuchel, known for his demanding tactical approach, was visibly frustrated on the touchline as England failed to create clear scoring opportunities. The second goal, when it eventually came, was a moment of quality from captain Harry Kane, who finished clinically in the 77th minute after a clever pass from Bellingham.

Tuchel: “We Have to Do Better”

After the match, Tuchel did not hold back in his assessment of the performance, acknowledging that England fell short of his expectations.

“We can do better, we have to do better,” Tuchel said in his post-match press conference. “The opponent was hard to wear down because they defended in a deep block, but in the second half, I felt we were too slow. We didn’t make enough runs off the ball to get behind them.”

The German tactician, who has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs including Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern Munich, stressed that England needs to be more dynamic and unpredictable in attack.

“We had some heavy legs tonight. I felt we were a little bit tired. We will get better, we will get more rhythm. I need to understand the players better—why do we struggle to get more runs in the final third? These are things we will work on step by step.”

Tuchel emphasized that England will need tactical adjustments and improved chemistry to break down more organized defensive units in future matches.

“We will have video sessions and analyze the areas where we can improve. It’s about finding solutions quickly because we have another game coming up.”

A Work in Progress Under Tuchel

England’s performance against Albania highlighted both the positives and the challenges Tuchel faces in molding the team to his philosophy. While the defensive organization was solid—limiting Albania to very few attacking opportunities—the lack of creativity and urgency in attack was a concern.

Tuchel’s tactical philosophy revolves around quick transitions, fluid movement, and high-intensity pressing, but England looked far from a side capable of executing that vision just yet. The midfield trio of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden had moments of quality but struggled to break the lines and penetrate Albania’s compact shape.

One key area where England must improve is movement off the ball. Too often, players waited for the ball to come to them rather than making intelligent runs to stretch the defense. The absence of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, both of whom are adept at creating space, was noticeable.

Tuchel’s post-match comments suggested that he is still in the process of identifying his best tactical setup and preferred personnel. His decision to start Lewis-Skelly over more experienced options shows that he is willing to experiment, but England’s attacking structure needs refinement.

What’s Next for England?

The Three Lions will have little time to dwell on their performance, as they host Latvia in their next World Cup qualifier on Monday. While Albania provided a defensive challenge, Latvia—ranked significantly lower—could give Tuchel’s men a chance to find their attacking rhythm.

Tuchel will be expecting a much sharper and more dynamic performance, especially in breaking down a deep defensive block. The frontline movement, passing tempo, and attacking combinations will be areas of focus in training before the next match.

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While a winning start to the World Cup qualifying campaign was the most important objective, Tuchel’s England will need to show more creativity, energy, and tactical fluidity if they are to establish themselves as genuine contenders for international silverware.

Monday’s game against Latvia will be an opportunity for England to respond to Tuchel’s challenge—and prove that they are ready to evolve into the high-intensity, attacking force their new manager envisions.