England cemented their status as Europe’s most formidable World Cup qualifiers on Sunday, completing a flawless campaign with a 2–0 victory over Albania in Tirana. Harry Kane struck twice in the final minutes, but it was England’s extraordinary defensive perfection and Thomas Tuchel’s revitalised leadership that defined the night.

The win wrapped up England’s eighth straight triumph in Group K, extending a streak that makes them the first European nation to navigate a World Cup qualifying programme of at least six matches with maximum points and zero goals conceded. Not since Germany in 2018 has a European team won all its qualifiers, and none have done so with such defensive precision.

England’s clean sheet run now stands at 39 World Cup qualifiers without defeat since their last loss in 2009. This year alone, they scored 22 goals and conceded none, joining Spain and Norway as the only teams yet to ship a goal in this cycle.

Beyond qualification, Tuchel’s impact has become undeniably historic. England’s 10 consecutive competitive clean-sheet victories equal Spain’s European record, while their nine wins from 10 matches in 2025 represent the country’s best win ratio in a calendar year since 1946.

Tuchel, who began his England tenure with a 2–0 win over the same Albanian side in March, admitted that the evening was both demanding and rewarding.

“It was difficult, emotional. We controlled the game, then had to fight through a tricky spell,” he said. “It needed a moment of magic or a set piece, and we found it. The boys fully deserve this.”

Despite already booking their World Cup ticket in October, the Three Lions maintained the Germans’ insistence on focus, following their victory over Serbia with another composed performance against Albania’s rugged, in-form team.

Tuchel’s seven changes reintegrated Jude Bellingham, who returned to England’s starting XI for the first time since June. Albania, unbeaten in their previous eight games, threatened briefly when Elseid Hysaj went close, but England steadily seized control.

Bellingham, pushing to reclaim a guaranteed World Cup starting spot ahead of the in-form Morgan Rogers, offered flashes of quality, including a surging run that set up Jarrod Bowen for England’s first real chance.

The breakthrough fittingly came from a set piece, an area Kane revealed England have been structuring “like an NFL playbook.” In trademark fashion, Bukayo Saka’s corner sparked chaos, and Kane capitalised in the 74th minute after goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha spilled the delivery.

Kane doubled the lead eight minutes later, his 78th goal for England, rising to head home Marcus Rashford’s precise cross, sealing a landmark qualifying journey with a striker’s flourish.

With qualification secured and momentum building, England now await their World Cup draw on December 5 in Washington. And as Tuchel’s once-faltering tenure transforms into a campaign of quiet dominance, belief grows that England may finally chase a prize they have not touched since 1966.