Besides that 100 per cent winning streak they wished to maintain, England’s players were conscious they would not play again for their country until late March. A goalless draw in Albania would have sent them off back to their clubs with a nagging feeling of lost momentum. Then came Thomas Tuchel’s merrymen from the bench and all was well in the end.
Substitutes Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Elliot Anderson relit England’s fire on a tough evening in Tirana and made goals for Harry Kane in the 74th and 82nd minutes. Eventually, normal service resumed.
