Albania vs England Predictions

• Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 17 of England’s last 22 matches.
• Over 2.5 goals have been scored in each of England’s last nine major tournament qualification fixtures.
• England have won 17 of their last 22 assignments.
• Albania have scored at least once in seven of their last ten home games.

England can take control of Group I

England started their World Cup qualification campaign with an emphatic 5-0 win over minnows San Marino, and more goals look on the cards when the Three Lions travel east to take on Albania in Tirana.

Gareth Southgate chose to leave some of his star players, including Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice on the bench for their routine triumph against San Marino, though England are expected to roll out all of their big guns at the Air Albania Stadium this week.

That should heighten the goal-scoring potential in an already dangerous-looking Three Lions outfit, and the formidable arsenal in England’s armoury should fire them to another victory on Sunday.

Albania start with a win

Albania also made a positive, if more modest start to their Group I campaign with a narrow 1-0 win at Andorra on Wednesday, where defender Ermir Lenjani notched the game’s only goal just before the interval.

The Albanians aren’t expected to cause much of a stir in the group elsewhere however, and the step up in class when they face England should highlight just how far behind the big guns the Eagles really are.

Stick to goal markets in Tirana

With the short price match result markets best avoided on Sunday, bettors are instead advised to stick to goals, where backing over 2.5 to be scored is available at more attractive odds.

In England’s last qualification campaign for a major tournament (Euro 2020), all eight of their group matches produced over 2.5 goals, indeed, those fixtures averaged a whopping 5.375 goals per 90 minutes.

Southgate’s top-heavy side are generally ruthless against the weaker teams they come up against, as evidenced by their 5-0 win against San Marino in their group opener, and backing England’s goal-scoring prowess is advisable again when they meet Albania.

Our 3-1 correct score prediction tips the hosts to notch a consolation effort however. Albania have scored at least once in seven of their last ten home assignments, and they could nip in to impact the scoresheet again this week.