Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

Shamoon Hafez at Wembley

All times stated are UK

  1. KICK-OFF

    England 0-0 Albania

    And on the second attempt, away we go at Wembley.

  2. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    False start.

    Harry Kane kick-offs after forgetting to take the knee.

  3. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    And remembering those who died during battle as well.

    Remembrance sign
  4. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    There is a moment's silence before kick-off in memory of Ron Flowers, who passed away earlier today.

  5. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    Albanian national anthem followed by God Save The Queen.

    Out of sync.

  6. Post update

    Sam Allardyce had a 100% winning record as manager, but we're not including that are we?

    Are we?!

  7. Southgate you're the one...

    England v Albania (19:45 GMT)

    Gareth Southgate

    Semi-finals of the World Cup, semi-finals of the Nations League and final of the European Championship.

    This will be Gareth Southgate’s 67th match in charge of England, the joint-most of any England manager since Sir Bobby Robson left in 1990, equalling Sven-Goran Eriksson’s tally between 2001 and 2006.

    Southgate has already won more games (42) than Eriksson (40), with only Fabio Capello (67%) having a better win ratio for England than Southgate (64%).

    What impossible job??

  8. 'We have to be on the front foot'

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    ITV

    England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to ITV Sport: "It is hard to get a ticket for our games now and that is what we wanted for a long time, we've got to reward the fans with a performance.

    "We want to be really aggressive and on the front foot. We have to win the ball higher up the pitch, we have to be quicker on the ball and more aggressive with our forward running. The two wing-backs have done that week in and week out for their club and they will be key tonight."

    On Harry Kane playing further up the pitch tonight: "We will see that tonight. He is fundamental to making it work but it is also helpful for us that the last few weeks he has been doing it for his club."

  9. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    And the fans are really bouncing now with Sweet Caroline pumping out.

    I won't reach out to my right and touch Phil's fingers...

  10. Albania fans out in force

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    Phil McNulty

    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Albania will not be short of support inside Wembley tonight as their fans are packed into a corner of the stadium and making their presence felt. They were also in fine voice outside Wembley so it should make for an excellent atmosphere.

    Good noise inside Wembley as kick-off approaches.

  11. Stranglehold

    England v Albania (19:45 GMT)

    David Beckham

    England have won all five of their matches against Albania, scoring 14 goals and conceding just once, winning 2-0 earlier this World Cup campaign in Tirana.

    Albania are yet to score a goal on English soil against England, losing 5-0 at Wembley in April 1989 and going down 2-0 in September 2001 at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

  12. 'Flexibility of the team a strength'

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    Rob Green

    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The three at the back came about because he didn't trust two centre-halves. He has turned around and said actually that is where we are, we have the strength up front, we have the choices.

    It is that flexibility and that understanding of this team which has really proven to be the strength.

  13. Rise of the playmaker - Hoddle on why the future is Foden for England

    Glenn Hoddle

    That Euros final is the past and we're not looking to the future.

    Most people who watch and understand football at a high level now would never see Jack Grealish, Phil Foden or Mason Mount as luxury players, which is how I was always labelled.

    That's one of the ways the thinking has changed in this country since my playing days, because coaches and fans alike appreciate a creative player now more than ever.

    I called my new book 'Playmaker' because that's how I always saw myself, even as a young kid coming through, but back then that role was never really recognised in this country as it was around the rest of Europe.

    Most of our clubs in the 1970s and 80s played a rigid 4-4-2 and it was the same when I was with England too. If you were a creative player like me, then you were fighting against that system constantly because you had to fit into it, with four against four in midfield and the ball in the air too much for my liking.

    Read the rest of Glenn Hoddle's analysis

  14. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    England 'legends' are being rolled out in the build-up to the match.

    Emma Saunders, not to be confused with our Emma Sanders, has so far spoken to Stewart Downing, Wes Brown and David James pitchside.

    It's a bit like the mumbling DJ at the disco, I can't hear a word they're saying.

  15. Losing Euros final will stay with me - Kane

    England v Albania (19:45 GMT)

    It was at this scene only a few months ago where England agonisingly lost out on lifting the European Championship trophy, beaten on penalties by Italy.

    England captain Harry Kane says it "will stay with me for the rest of my career".

    Watch below.

    Video content

    Video caption: Euro 2021 final loss will stay with me for the rest of my career - Kane
  16. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    Here come the England players out to warm up.

    Friday night scheduling means there are a lot of kids in to watch the game.

    Plenty waving their flags around and having their pics taken in front of the pitch.

    Great to see.

    Fan
  17. Teams news from elsewhere...

    Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash has been named on the bench for Poland tonight, so he'll have to wait a bit for that international debut. Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich does start for the Poles.

    Elsewhere, Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel starts in goal for Denmark against the Faroe Islands. He's probably not expecting a busy night.

    Chelsea's Andreas Christensen starts in front of him at centre-back, with Brentford's Christian Norgaard in midfield.

    His club-mate Jorginho is included in Italy's starting XI to face Switzerland in a crucial top-of-the-table clash in Group C.

  18. Scots progress

    Scotland

    Scotland have clinched a World Cup play-off place with a game to spare thanks to a composed victory in Moldova.

    Nathan Paterson and Che Adams were on the scoresheet for Steve Clarke's men.

    Read the full story

  19. Post update

    England v Albania (19:45 BST)

    The £100m man Jack Grealish remain a firm fans' favourite at Wembley.

    No player got as loud a cheer as the Manchester City midfielder did when his name was read out.

    And he's on the bench!

  20. 'I ran downstairs and told my mum'

    England v Albania (19:45 GMT)

    ESR

    This is a sweet story...

    Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe says receiving his first full England call-up was a "very emotional" moment.

    Smith Rowe got the late call for the two World Cup qualifiers with Albania and San Marino after the withdrawals of Marcus Rashford and James Ward-Prowse.

    "It was a great moment for me and my family - I ran downstairs straight away and told my mum. It was very emotional. They were so proud of me," he said.

    Smith Rowe, 21, has scored in three successive league games for Arsenal.

    Read the full piece