Albania vs England - World Cup qualifiers LIVE: Latest score and updates as Jude Bellingham is recalled among SEVEN changes

Right, I think it's only fair I give you all an update on chairgate.

If you read my coverage of England's win over Serbia the other night, then you will know what I am yapping on about.

In the early minutes of that game, I fell off my chair and ended up hurting my elbow. Yes, please give me sympathy.

You will all be happy to know that my bruise has already gone, and my arm is fully functioning.

Let's hope my chair stays solid tonight! So far, so good.

Wow, what a tackle that is!

Jude Bellingham has just one of the most aesthetically pleasing sliding tackles I have ever seen to stop an Albania counter.

Honestly, beautiful.

It doesn't stop Albania coming at England for long, though, as Elseid Hysaj comes straight back at the Three Lions.

His eyes light up 20 yards out and he lets fly, but the ball flies safely over the bar.

Ohhhh, that's very nearly a lovely England move.

Harry Kane loves a deft little cross and he manages to find Jude Bellingham who arrives late in the box.

Bellingham then produces a cheeky flick, and the ball ends up with Declan Rice, but he bends one over the bar.

So nearly a lovely goal.

Whistles and boos ring around the stadium.

Why?

Well, that's because Ylber Ramadani has just picked up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Harry Kane.

I'm not sure what they are all moaning about, he clips Kane from behind - definite yellow.

Football fans just love to complain, though, don't they?

England are going to have to be incredibly patient this evening.

The early patterns of play show that Albania are content with just soaking up pressure, letting England have all the ball.

The Three Lions are applying lots of that pressure, but there are just no holes in the Albania backline.

This stinks of a cheeky 1-0 win... don't expect a bunch of goals.

Declan Rice is playing ridiculously high tonight, my word.

He is almost the furthest player forward in every attack, and very nearly gets on the end of a Harry Kane through ball.

This is a very interesting system, with John Stones dropping into midfield when England have the ball.

The early signs are positive... I like what I am seeing.

Now that was some lovely footie, fair dos.

England are incredibly patient and knock the ball around for a solid two minutes as they look to pierce Albania's stubborn defence.

They slowly work their way into the penalty area and Declan Rice finds himself in space, and takes the ball down well.

It's a good effort, but Thomas Strakosha does well to save.

England have started brightly here.

They win a corner inside one minute, and you expect Declan Rice to whip in one of his classic, cracking crosses.

But nope, they try a cheeky routine which ends with Jude Bellingham miscueing a cross into the stands.

Just put it in the mixer, lads.

Right then, off we go.

The hostility already seems to have dissipated as we get underway, all you can hear is the England fans giving it some in the corner now.

I'm sure thr whistles will begin again soon, though.

This could be an entertaining night - I have a good feeling.

The players have emerged from the tunnel to a cauldron of noise here in Tirana; this place is deafening.

There are even some whistles as 'God Save the King' is sung by the players and two singers.

They are really trying to create a hostile environment, which could be incredibly tough for England to play in.

All four stands then stop booing and start belting out the Albanian national anthem. I have to say, some of the players need to work on being more tuneful... not great.

Anyway, the national anthems are done, it's nearly go time.

Thomas Tuchel, England manager, on ITV:

On Adam Wharton starting:

On Jude Bellingham :

If only Bruce Buffer were here tonight.

It'ssssss *nearly* timeeeee.

Just doesn't hit the same when it's 'nearly' and in written text in comparison to the UFC stadium announcer.

Anyway, we are less than 10 minutes from kick-off and I am itching for this one to get going.

For one last time in 2025...

How did I miss this?

I have only just figured out that tonight is Adam Wharton's first start in an England shirt.

For some reason, I just assumed he had started as a game for the Three Lions before, seeing as he's made a handful of appearances.

Well, he hasn't, and tonight is the perfect opportunity for him to lay a marker down to Thomas Tuchel and show why he should be starting more.

It's him vs Elliot Anderson for a spot in the World Cup midfield...

Let's throw it back to Thomas Tuchel's first game, shall we?

The first glimpse we got of Tuchel on the touchline leading the Three Lions was against tonight's opposition, Albania, back in March.

Now, I'm going to be real with you guys, all I remember from that night was that it was an incredibly boring game.

Many fans and journalists were left pretty underwhelmed. Well, I know I was.

But anyway, Tuchel started off with a win, and if you want to watch the highlights to see how the game went, be my guest.

Hopefully the game will be more entertaining tonight, mind.

Sylvinho, Albania boss, on England's qualifying form:

Stephen Warnock, former England defender, on Radio 5 Live:

This isn't going to be a walk in the park, guys.

Albania is in fine form coming into this match, having not lost since England beat them in March.

Any of you who watched that match will know that England weren't exactly great, either. It was a torturous watch.

Albania have since gone eight games unbeaten, winning their last five, and are in the play-offs for World Cup qualification.

Can they spoil England's perfect record?

Finally, Albania's team news is out...

(Actually, it's my fault I didn't see that they actually posted the graphic 20 minutes ago, oh well)

Armando Broja doesn't get the start many of us expected; he has to make do with the bench.

Guys, this may be the best costume I have ever seen.

Albania's national symbol is a golden eagle, and this fan has decided to come dressed as one.

I mean, how he has managed to get such a good costume, I do not know. Just look at that mask, it's brilliant. Must have cost a pretty penny, that's for sure.

If there were a competition for costumes tonight, this person would win by a landslide.

Thomas Tuchel, England manager, on the possibility of making history:

England are rock solid at the back. I mean, it ROCK solid.

With Jordan Pickford between the sticks and a consistently brilliant back four, England have kept nine clean sheets on the bounce in competitive matches.

I mean, that's crazy, right?

The names on the roster may have changed this evening, with Dean Henderson between the sticks and the likes of Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn starting, but England still have the chance to make history.

Only one European nation has ever won more consecutive competitive matches without conceding, with Spain winning 10 in a row between October 2014 and June 2016.

Tuchel’s side can match that run tonight.

Someone is happy to be back starting for England.

Well, either that, or Jude Bellingham is just laughing at a cracker of a joke that Morgan Rogers has just told him. You never know, could be that.

Either way, Bellingham seems in a very good place right now, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he scoped out Arena Kombetare.

A happy Bellingham is a dangerous Bellingham.

Alan Shearer, former England captain, speaking to Betfair:

Guess who's back, back again... Jude is back, tell your friends.

Bellingham must be absolutely buzzing; his comeback with England is complete as Thomas Tuchel names him in the starting line-up.

I mean, after his bright cameo against Serbia, the German simply had to start him this evening, didn't he?

I mean, let's not kid ourselves here, Bellingham should be in the starting line-up come June next year when the World Cup rolls around.

He is one of the county's most talented players, and he showed that again against Serbia. In a game that needed energy, he provided it.

Can he provide that energy again in Tirana?

It's a big day for a certain Jarell Quansah...

The Bayer Leverkusen defender is set for his first England cap as he is one of seven changes from the team that beat Serbia.

Jude Bellingham is also one of the seven who come in after his cameo on Thursday, but Phil Foden remains on the bench.

Dean Henderson comes in for Jordan Pickford.

OK, guys, I have had a sneak peek at the England team.

I expected Thomas Tuchel to go fairly strong tonight in order to finish the group in style, but well, he has stunned me.

The German has made a whole host of changes.

Only four starters from the win over Serbia keep their place in Tirana this evening.

Who are those four? You'll just have to wait and see...

Right, before we get tucked into the build-up, I reckon we should have a quick rewind to Thursday night.

Another match, another England win.

Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions really are on an absolute tear at the moment, and having already qualified for the World Cup, they managed to keep their momentum going in midweek.

It wasn't the most exciting of games, sure, but goals from Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze got the job done against a stubborn Serbia.

Now they are just one game from perfection.

Seven games. Seven wins. No goals conceded.

England are on the cusp of completing the full World Cup qualification campaign without dropping a single point, or even conceding a single goal. Quite remarkable, really.

Tonight, they will be looking to sign off from Group K in style as they take on Albania.

Thomas Tuchel fielded an incredibly strong side against Serbia on Sunday, and I'm sure he won't be planning on taking his foot off the gas this evening, so I expect he will do the same again.

This is the last time we will see England in action for four months (cue mass cheers), so let's just enjoy the Three Lions one last time before we bed in for a crazy winter ahead.

Let's get cracking.