Teen Lewis-Skelly scores as Tuchel enjoys opening win

A first game that was encouraging rather than electrifying, with most of the new excitement offered by Myles Lewis-Skelly rather than any sense of a new era.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Thomas Tuchel’s week culminated in the teenager’s night, as he became England football team’s youngest ever debutant goalscorer in this professional 2-0 win over Albania.

You wouldn’t have guessed Lewis-Skelly was a mere 18 years and 176 days – or at least you wouldn’t if you hadn’t seen Arsenal this season – with the way he confidently drove up the line.

So many of England’s best moments came when he burst up that left in tandem with Jude Bellingham and – occasionally – Marcus Rashford. It was the Aston Villa forward’s old record that Lewis-Skelly beat, of course, as Rashford offered flashes rather than a complete performance.

Harry Kane at least rounded off the occasion, and made it feel a more substantial victory, by claiming a brilliantly worked goal. The forward took down Declan Rice’s pass with a controlled touch before delaying his finish and then wrapping the ball around Thomas Strakosha and into the far corner.

It was exactly what the manager wanted, especially as Kane hadn’t capitalised on earlier chances to crown this first match of a new era with a goal.

There was a symbolism to that strike Tuchel has been so strident about how Kane is his captain and star, accepting absolutely none of the arguments that a modern England might be better served with more mobility up front. He knows him from Bayern Munich and knows what he can do.