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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>England were made to toil for the three points</li><li>Kane and Lewis-Skelly were on target for the Three Lions</li><li>Fans give honest verdict on the performance</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Southgate was more entertaining' - England players given honest assessment after picking up routine win against Albania in first game under Thomas Tuchel

World Cup Qualification UEFA

England

Latvia

Albania

Andorra

<p>Tuchel had vowed to bring the excitement back to Wembley after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/thomas-tuchel-brutal-verdict-gareth-southgate-euro-2024-campaign-excitement-back-to-england/bltbd6e8972ab28a692#cs0b03f5150856071e" target="_blank">delivering a brutal verdict on England's playing</a> style in the Southgate era, especially in last summer's European Championship. However, the German manager got a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/thomas-tuchel-verdict-cole-palmer-injury-chelsea-star-ruled-out-first-matches-new-england-manager/blt778ff60197379a7d#csb32cc5aa3ac2f0a1" target="_blank">harsh reality check on Friday evening</a> as his side struggled to break down a determined Albanian side and was subsequently forced to admit that "we have to do better".</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>England got their noses in front in the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/england-player-ratings-albania-thomas-tuchel-myles-lewis-skelly-harry-kane-phil-foden/blt7343d5e3c3d964dc" target="_blank">20th-minute courtesy of a composed finish </a>from Arsenal starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, the Three Lions struggled for fluency and had to wait until the 70th-minute to get an insurance goal with skipper Harry Kane finding the net from close range. A routine win, but far from the bells and whistles that Tuchel expected to provide a sell-out Wembley crowd on his international managerial debut. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>The English fans took aim at Tuchel after the match as <a href="https://x.com/MarkWalkerFord/status/1903200213612818751" target="_blank">@MarkWalkerFord</a> wrote: "Uninspiring start… Southgate was more entertaining 😬".</p><p><a href="https://x.com/MissLSW/status/1903200344714203640" target="_blank">@MissLSW</a> was a bit kinder as she wrote: "Not great but not bad."</p><p><a href="https://x.com/mvlaren/status/1903200227584016777" target="_blank">@mvlaren </a>echoed the sentiment: "it was not amazing but it was a solid performance vs an easy team."</p><p>Whereas, <a href="https://x.com/_archiegrant6/status/1903202118489739717" target="_blank">@_archiegrant6 </a>put forward a fresh challenge and wrote: "Meh it’s alright, dominated the ball and played well but if we don’t put at least five past Latvia I’ll be disappointed."</p><p><a href="https://x.com/RealTomHoskins/status/1903200277345575099" target="_blank">@RealTomHoskins</a> seconded and quipped: "I expected much better from a Thomas Tuchel team. The performance was so passive and lacking creativity. Tuchel has a lot of work to do if this lot are to compete at next years World Cup."</p>

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

<p>After a sombre start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, England will be looking to turn up the heat against Latvia on Monday at Wembley. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

'Southgate was more entertaining' - England players given honest assessment after picking up routine win against Albania in first game under Thomas Tuchel | Goal.com Australia

English fans believe Gareth Southgate&apos;s side &quot;was more entertaining&quot; as England chugged to a 2-0 win against Albania on Thomas Tuchel&apos;s debut.

&apos;Southgate was more entertaining&apos; - England players given honest assessment after picking up routine win against Albania in first game under Thomas Tuchel

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