Sports
Kane double gives England record-setting finish to W’Cup 2026
Harry Kane put the seal on flawless England’s record-setting finish to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a late double in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Albania.
After an eighth successive Group K victory, England are the first European side to go through a World Cup qualifying campaign of at least six matches with an 100 percent record and no goals conceded.
They are the first European team to win all their World Cup qualifiers since Germany in 2018.
England have not lost a World Cup qualifier in 39 games since 2009 when they were beaten 1-0 in Ukraine.
They scored 22 goals and allowed none in a perfect path to next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Spain, like England yet to concede a goal, and Norway have also won all their qualifiers. Both have one game left.
England’s run of 10 consecutive competitive wins without conceding a goal equals Spain’s European record.
The Three Lions also end 2025 with their highest win percentage in a calendar year since 1946 – nine victories from 10 games under Tuchel featuring only one blemish in a friendly loss to Senegal in June.
Tuchel started his reign with a 2-0 win against Albania in March and the same opponents book-ended a memorable first year in charge for the German.
Although England wrapped up their World Cup place in October, they followed Tuchel’s demand to stay focused, beating Serbia on Thursday and dispatching obdurate Albania.
Far sterner tests lie in in wait at the World Cup but Tuchel has recovered from a sluggish start to his reign to provide genuine belief that England can win a major trophy for the first time since 1966.
By the time they return to action with two friendlies in March, Tuchel will know who England will face at the World Cup after the draw in Washington on December 5.
Tuchel made seven changes as he brought Jude Bellingham back into the starting line-up for the first time since June after restricting him to a substitute appearance against Serbia.
Although England enjoyed over 70 percent of the possession, they found it hard to carve open Albania, on an eight-match unbeaten run that ranked as their best in 15 years.
Sylvinho’s combative side nearly snatched a shock lead when Elseid Hysaj curled just over from the edge of the area.
Left out of the October internationals, Bellingham had a point to prove to Tuchel as he fights for starting berth at the World Cup after Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers impressed in his absence.
The Real Madrid midfielder’s contribution was patchy until he drove forward to set up Jarrod Bowen for a low strike that Thomas Strakosha pushed around the post.
England’s clean-sheet run almost came to an end immediately after the interval.
Dean Henderson, deputising for Jordan Pickford, flung himself to the left to parry Arber Hoxha’s stinging shot.
Henderson made an equally good save moments later, blocking Hoxha’s close-range effort after Dan Burn’s miscued pass put England in danger.
Kane said on Saturday that England want to build an NFL-style playbook to help make the most of set-pieces at the World Cup.
Fittingly, the England captain, a noted NFL fan, struck from a set-piece in the 74th minute.
Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked into the six-yard box and Kane tapped in after Strakosha failed to gather.
The Bayern Munich striker wasn’t done yet and he netted again in the 82nd minute to make it 78 goals for England in 112 appearances.
Marcus Rashford’s cross was perfectly weighted for Kane to thump his header past Strakosha from five yards, concluding England’s campaign with a flourish.
• Lookman, Osimhen, Bassey listed
Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey have been included in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Best XI of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.
The selection was announced by CAF’s Technical Study Group (TSG) after the tournament ended on Sunday. The trio played key roles in Nigeria’s campaign, which saw the Super Eagles finish third overall.
Tournament winners Senegal and finalists Morocco dominated the Best XI, with four players each making the final list.
According to CAF, the Team of the Tournament was selected through a comprehensive technical evaluation process. This involved both remote and on-site assessments, supported by live data platforms, multi-angle video footage and analysis by technical experts.
Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, led his country’s representation after conceding only two goals in seven matches. He was joined by teammates Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Brahim Díaz, who emerged as the tournament’s highest goal scorer.
Senegal’s representatives include defender Moussa Niakhaté, midfielders Pape Gueye and Idrissa Gueye, as well as forward Sadio Mané. Mané was also named Player of the Tournament following his decisive contributions to Senegal’s title-winning campaign.
Nigeria’s inclusion in the Best XI through Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen reflects the Super Eagles’ strong solidarity and competitive performance at the continental tournament.
Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, was Nigeria’s top scorer at the tournament with an impressive four goals in six matches while Lookman grabbed four goals with an impressive four assists in six matches.
Fulham defender, Bassey, stood like a rock of Gibraltar in the heart of the Super Eagles’ defence and was even rewarded with the man of the Match Award in the il-fated match against hosts, Morocco in the semi-finals.
AFCON 2025 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco);Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal);Calvin Bassey (Nigeria);Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)
Midfielders: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria); Pape Gueye (Senegal);Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Forwards: Brahim Díaz (Morocco);Victor Osimhen (Nigeria); Sadio Mané (Senegal)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee have imposed severe sanctions on Algeria following the chaotic scenes that unfolded after their quarter-final defeat to Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).
The sanctions affect players, the federation, and supporters involved in the incidents at the end of the match, which saw Nigeria defeat Algeria 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals.
Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France football legend Zinedine Zidane, has been handed a two-match suspension.
Defender Rafik Belghali has received a four-match ban, two of which are suspended. All suspensions will be served during the CAN 2027 qualifiers, meaning the players will still be eligible to play in this summer’s World Cup.
The (FAF) were also fined a total of $100,000 for the misconduct of the national team, as well as the inappropriate behaviour of certain players, officials, and fans following the final whistle.
In response, the FAF have confirmed it will appeal the sanctions, emphasizing their commitment to defending the interests of Algerian football through institutional channels.
Real Madrid have confirmed the inclusion of Kylian Mbappe in their squad for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Manchester City, despite the French international being a doubt due to injury concerns.
The 26-year-old missed the club’s open training session on Tuesday, with reports in Spain suggesting he has a fractured finger.
He is also reportedly managing a knee issue, but his presence would be a major boost for head coach Xabi Alonso.
Going into this clash versus Pep’s Manchester City, Xabi Alonso’s future at Real Madrid has come under intense scrutiny after the team won just one of their last five La Liga matches, including an embarrassing 2-0 loss at home to Celta Vigo.
Recent forms and predictions have described Alonso’s chances of survival as “slim,” warning that a defeat to City at the Bernabeu on Wednesday could mark the end of his tenure, which began only this summer.
Mbappe has scored 25 goals across La Liga and the Champions League this season, but he went goalless as Real Madrid suffered defeat on Sunday.
Should he fail to start the match or even replicate his form, Xabi Alonso will be banking on the best of Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham and others.
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