Lastly, in his prime, Rickie Lambert was among the Premier League’s most productive strikers. That was demonstrated during his lengthy tenure at Southampton, which led to his 2013 England call-up. Lambert showcased his ‘clutch’ talent during the Three Lions’ match against Scotland to commemorate the FA’s 150th anniversary. He scored the game-winning goal seconds after being introduced, using his first touch in international football. Even while a debut goal is always amazing, nothing compares to scoring a goal against the nation’s fiercest opponents inside the first few seconds of entering the game.
Important details
The scoreline
Scotland 3-2 England
Date
August 14, 2013
The stadium
The Wembley Stadium
Attendance
80,485
Runners in Behind
Southgate was criticised for not having players run beyond Kane
The absence of threat in the final third when Harry Kane dropped deep to receive the ball was one of the main issues during the latter portion of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as Three Lions manager. Although it was unclear if Tuchel would make his captain stick on the last guy to stop this, the number nine for Bayern Munich has often played his typical game as he tries to get on the ball.
This time, though, there were several eager runners attempting to enter behind the Albanian defence when he left space in attack. Jude Bellingham, who performs a similar function to that of Real Madrid, almost benefited from this same manoeuvre in the early going. Additionally, there were a few glimmers of Rashford slipping inside to pose a threat. Lewis-Skelly’s opener was, of course, the most notable example.
A renewed emphasis on set pieces
Rice was put on duty on corner kicks.
Additionally, it was evident that Friday night’s chaos-causing set pieces were given more attention. During the 2018 World Cup, when players like Harry Maguire posed a serious threat, Southgate gained a reputation for doing just that. The threat diminished over his tenure, but under Tuchel, there were indications that it was returning.
Declan Rice whipped in crosses, just like he did for Arsenal, and Phil Foden was relieved of his corner kick duties. The tall Burn won three straight headers, including one that cannoned off the bar, and it seemed impossible to stop him from making first contact in his aerial skirmishes. Even though it didn’t lead to a goal, it was undoubtedly enough to spark curiosity and evoke recollections of the recent past.
Lewis-Skelly Clears the Audition for Left-Back
Aside from his objective, the teenager made an impression.
The left-back position was the one that seemed most vulnerable at the beginning of Tuchel’s tenure as manager. Kieran Trippier, who is currently retired from international competition, played there in a temporary role at Euro 2024. Lewis Hall, Ben Chilwell, and Luke Shaw were all injured and missed time. It essentially offered Lewis-Skelly the best opportunity to establish himself there.
The adolescent opened his England account, of course, which is a huge plus. However, his manager might have been persuaded by his overall performance that he ought to be the starting left-back. The child was dangerous when in possession, whether they were coming inside or on the overlap. He handled the situation admirably while he was under defensive pressure. In many respects, the Arsenal starlet’s debut was perfect.
Rashford Fails to Impress on England Return
The winger made his first appearance for his country in 12 months
There was controversy surrounding Rashford’s selection in the England team since some people thought a number of other players were more worthy of a spot than the Aston Villa loanee. The 27-year-old’s great performance was necessary to silence the doubters. However, he didn’t.
The Manchester United graduate was mostly anonymous, and social media was used to criticise his performance, despite occasional flashes of skill when he darted infield. “Rashford is the most overrated player ever,” said one fan, while another added, “Rashford needs Asensio on the pitch.”
A third gave a more thorough analysis of his efforts, stating: “I won’t lie. Tonight, I was hoping for so much more from Rasford. In all honesty, he was dreadfully ordinary.
Foden and Rashford are not moving me at all.
— Rebekka (@rebekkarnold) March 21, 2025
Kane Proves Why He Is Right Number Nine For Tuchel
The England captain put in a more impressive display than in recent England appearances
There have been doubts about Kane’s future with England since Euro 2024. The former Tottenham player is undoubtedly one of the world’s top scorers, but at age 31, he is not getting any younger, and his recent national team performances were lacking. Kane appeared unhealthy and laboured, especially over the summer, and his deep-lying position was more of a liability than a benefit.
But for the first time in a long time, Tuchel appeared refreshed in his national colours during his debut match. As previously said, he had willing runners who would take advantage of the gap he left behind while he continued to dive deep. At last, he seemed to be in sync with his teammates, and the opposite was true. There were enough subliminal clues to suggest that Kane was looking sharper, even if Albania maintained their tough defensive posture.
His objective was, of course, usual, but well-considered. With Ollie Watkins waiting in the wings to offer an alternate option that many have been clamouring for in recent months, it was exactly what he needed.
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