Albania Vs England
Albania Vs England Sunday, 28th March 2021 – 17:00 (ITV)
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: England Win to Nil
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 26th March 2021)
Preview: The top two in Group I meet inside Loro-Birici Stadium, Albania, where the hosts resume their search for a first ever victory over England, who prevailed without so much as conceding a goal in three of the pair’s past four encounters.
World Cup Qualifying Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Albania – Boasting the form to cause problems?
There could be several thousand home supporters in attendance at Loro-Borici Stadium to watch their team take on a side currently ranked fourth in the world. However, considering how Albania struggled in the majority of their recent encounters when facing the world’s top-ten ranked nations – failing to even score in eight of the previous eleven (W1 L10) such encounters – there could be disappointment ahead.
Thursday’s 1-0 win in Andorra, though, extended their winning run to four matches. None of the sides beaten (Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kosovo) were of the level of Sunday’s opposition. France were the most recent and comparable opponent to England, and Les Blues eased to a 2-0 victory in the capital of Tirana for a Euro 2020 Qualifier. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris wouldn’t even have a save to make.
Nevertheless, this team are in strong form. They will also be fighting to preserve their current six-match unbeaten streak (W4 D2). England can also expect to be on the receiving end of some niggly challenges. Five yellow cards were issued to Albanian players during Thursday’s slender margin of victory over Andorra, having been shown four in a 3-2 win at home to Belarus in their final fixture of 2020.
England – Captain Kane to show them how it is done?
After sitting out Thursday’s routine 5-0 win at Wembley over San Marino, is Harry Kane primed for his first international run out of the year? The Tottenham Hotspur striker has five goals from his last five appearances at club level and is currently in a share of the lead for the Premier League Golden Boot. His last goal for his country, however, came away to Kosovo in November 2019 during qualifying for Euro 2020.
Had Kane been involved last time, there is no doubt England would have added a few more goals. Some wayward finishing to blame for a modest scoreline after scoring just five times from 32 shots on goal, 15 of which found the target but not the back of the San Marino net. Ultimately the three points were all important, and they are expected to make it a full complement in Shkoder on Sunday.
The Three Lions boast a flawless record against Albania, whom they’ve beaten twice and by exactly two goals on both previous visits, more recently in 2001. Gareth Southgate’s side are also unbeaten across their last 22 World Cup qualifiers (W16 D6), and have conceded in only one of their last five competitive away matches – that in a 2-0 defeat to Belgium, who are the highest ranked nation according to FIFA.
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Albania Vs England Betting Advice
Unbeaten in six games having won each of the past four, Albania could make for uncompromising opponents for England. The last visiting team to win by a margin of at least two goals were Scotland, in a 4-0 Nations League win in 2019. Since then, Albania have lost only three of ten home games (W6 D1). However, all three were to nil, continuing a theme which has seen seven of their last eight home defeats come to nil.
Albania Vs England – Key Facts:
- England boast a 100% record against Albania, winning three of four prior meetings either without conceding or by exactly two goals.
- Albania are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run (W4 D2), winning the last four consecutively. They opened their qualifying accounts with a 1-0 win in Andorra.
- The Three Lions are without defeat across their last 22 World Cup Qualifiers (W16 D6). Meanwhile, all-but one of England‘s previous eight wins away from home were to nil.
Conversely, seven of England’s last eight victories were without conceding a goal. This lends nicely to the notion that they can do so once again here, at reasonable odds. Moreover, The Three Lions recorded four consecutive away clean sheets prior to a 2-0 defeat in Belgium at the end of 2020, and should be wise enough to contend with a combative and in-form but, ultimately, limited Albania.
Best Betting Odds – Albania Vs England
Albania – 11/1 (Betfair)
Draw – 9/2 (BetVictor)
England – 3/10 (BetFred)
