Pickford Helps Tuchel's England Reign Get Off To A Flyer

It was another international clean sheet for Jordan Pickford, who picked up his 74th England cap and first under new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Albania at Wembley on Friday evening.

Everton striker Armando Broja – who is on loan from Chelsea – was introduced as a 63rd-minute substitute for Albania, having being named on the bench from the start.

Young Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Kelly set England on their way in the first half, becoming the youngest England player to score on debut at 18 years and 176 days by prodding home a defence-splitting pass from Jude Bellingham.

Captain Harry Kane then sealed the victory 13 minutes with a close-range effort, ensuring Tuchel's reign as manager got off to the ideal start.

Jarrad Branthwaite came off the substitutes' bench on 73 minutes for England Under-21s, who fell to defeat in an eight-goal thriller in a friendly against France Under-21s.

With the Young Lions trailing 4-3 on 65 minutes, Liverpool's Harvey Elliot missed a crucial penalty before Lyon's Rayan Cherki wrapped it up for France, as the game finished 5-3 to the hosts in Lorient.

Earlier in the day, Everton Under-21s goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban played the full 90 minutes for Slovenia Under-21s, who were held to a 1-1 draw with Ukraine Under-21s, having opened the scoring inside five minutes via Tjas Begic's strike.