England maintain 100% World Cup qualifying record with win over Albania

England continued their winning start to the 2022 World Cup qualifying with a two-goal victory over Albania.

Harry Kane and Mason Mount netted in a 2-0 win as England moved two points clear at the top of Group I.

Albania could have taken the lead early when a counter-attack saw Myrto Uzuni miss a superb chance when he lifted the ball over the bar from 20 yards.

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England struggled to gain a foothold on the match in the first 40 minutes with Kyle Walker’s long-range shot proving to be the only test for Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

Kane did ensure England would be going into the break with the lead though when he headed in from Luke Shaw’s pinpoint cross.

England upped their game in the second half though. Phil Foden saw a shot turned onto the post by Berisha and Kane hit the crossbar from close range.

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Mount put the game to bed in the 63rd minute when he placed the ball into the net from Kane’s through ball.

“We adapted well to the difficult pitch, controlled the game well. We changed the shape of the midfield well and looked comfortable after that,” England manager Gareth Southgate told ITV.

“The end of the game we should have killed the game off and I didn’t like the way we managed the game in the last 15 minutes.”

England face their toughest test of the campaign so far on Wednesday when they meet Robert Lewandowski’s Poland.

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