England started the Thomas Tuchel era with a 2-0 victory over Albania in World Cup qualifying. While Tuchel's teams are normally known for their intensity and pressing, it was hard for England to show either against a team who set up as defensively as Albania, especially in the first half.

England had 74% of the ball and 12 shots to Albania's three - with the hosts recording all six efforts on target in the game. In the opening 45 minutes they completed 437 passes, the most on Opta's records of any England first half.

Before the game Tuchel created plenty of headlines when he said England looked like they had played with fear at Euro 2024 under his predecessor Gareth Southgate. He also suggested he wanted them to play Premier League-style physical football. And he sent England out in a 4-2-3-1.

"Thomas Tuchel's had the squad for three days - you can't expect to see a different England team," said former Three Lions midfielder Leon Osman on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It was a difficult game from a spectating perspective," said former England defender Matt Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Once we got into the rhythm, it was very much an England game at Wembley against inferior opposition where they struggled to break them down.

"We are all wanting to see how Thomas Tuchel's plan is going to happen.

"There are so many questions, but ultimately they have to manage the game itself and England did that well."

Upson added that Tuchel probably learned to "understand what it feels like and looks like tactically" to play against a team in a low block like Albania's.