The Albany Gazette - Kane double gives England record-setting finish on road to World Cup

Kane struck twice in the closing stages as Thomas Tuchel's made history in Tirana.

After an eighth successive Group K victory, England are the first European side to go through a World Cup qualifying campaign of at least six matches with an 100 percent record and no goals conceded.

They are the first European team to win all their World Cup qualifiers since Germany in 2018.

England have not lost a World Cup qualifier in 39 games since 2009 when they were beaten 1-0 in Ukraine.

They scored 22 goals and allowed none in a perfect path to next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Spain, like England yet to concede a goal, and Norway have also won all their qualifiers. Both have one game left.

England's run of 10 consecutive competitive wins without conceding a goal equals Spain's European record.

The Three Lions also end 2025 with their highest win percentage in a calendar year since 1946 -- nine victories from 10 games under Tuchel featuring only one blemish in a friendly loss to Senegal in June.

Tuchel started his reign with a 2-0 win against Albania in March and the same opponents book-ended a memorable first year in charge for the German.

Although England wrapped up their World Cup place in October, they followed Tuchel's demand to stay focused, beating Serbia on Thursday and dispatching obdurate Albania.

Far sterner tests lie in in wait at the World Cup but Tuchel has recovered from a sluggish start to his reign to provide genuine belief that England can win a major trophy for the first time since 1966.

By the time they return to action with two friendlies in March, Tuchel will know who England will face at the World Cup after the draw in Washington on December 5.

- Finish with a flourish -

Tuchel made seven changes as he brought Jude Bellingham back into the starting line-up for the first time since June after restricting him to a substitute appearance against Serbia.

Although England enjoyed over 70 percent of the possession, they found it hard to carve open Albania, on an eight-match unbeaten run that ranked as their best in 15 years.

Sylvinho's combative side nearly snatched a shock lead when Elseid Hysaj curled just over from the edge of the area.

Left out of the October internationals, Bellingham had a point to prove to Tuchel as he fights for starting berth at the World Cup after Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers impressed in his absence.

The Real Madrid midfielder's contribution was patchy until he drove forward to set up Jarrod Bowen for a low strike that Thomas Strakosha pushed around the post.

England's clean-sheet run almost came to an end immediately after the interval.

Dean Henderson, deputising for Jordan Pickford, flung himself to the left to parry Arber Hoxha's stinging shot.

Henderson made an equally good save moments later, blocking Hoxha's close-range effort after Dan Burn's miscued pass put England in danger.

Kane said on Saturday that England want to build an NFL-style playbook to help make the most of set-pieces at the World Cup.

Fittingly, the England captain, a noted NFL fan, struck from a set-piece in the 74th minute.

Bukayo Saka's corner was flicked into the six-yard box and Kane tapped in after Strakosha failed to gather.

The Bayern Munich striker wasn't done yet and he netted again in the 82nd minute to make it 78 goals for England in 112 appearances.

Marcus Rashford's cross was perfectly weighted for Kane to thump his header past Strakosha from five yards, concluding England's campaign with a flourish.

(L.Thomas--TAG)