Follow live coverage as Kosovo host England in one final Euro 2020 qualifier ahead of the tournament next summer.
England hammered Montenegro 7-0 at Wembley to qualify for Euro 202 0 as group winners. England have won six of their seven qualification matches so far, losing only to the Czech Republic in Prague.
Kosovo have meanwhile exceeded all expectations and have secured a playoff place to keep alive their hopes of reaching their first major national tournament. However, a 2-1 loss to Czech Republic means they will be unable to finish second even with victory over England today. Follow live coverage below:
This will be the first game since October 2017 that Jordan Pickford hasn’t started in goal for England.
Jack Butland was the first choice keeper on that day, Nick Pope starts in goal today.
Bernard Challandes has been speaking to ITV before the game. He said: “We have seen all this campaign, England has the best offensive team in the world. They are the favourite for the European Championship.
“There is big enthusiasm within the team. People are very proud of the team. The good feeling with the support can help, particularly today.
“We have never lost here but we have never played against such a team as England.”
Last time out there were eight goals in the match and with both teams already through to the main tournament next year we expect Kosovo to take the game to England:
This will be England’s final game of the calender year, they’ve arrived at the stadium with news that Nick Pope will get a first start for the three lions.
If England win today they’ll go into the tournament as one of six seeds from the 10 qualifying groups.
Those seedings are decided by who finishes where in the qualifying groups. The top six seeds will be the six group winners who earn the most points, with goal difference used if teams are level on points.
There is a caveat, however, that teams may be moved into another seeding pot. That could happen to avoid two host cities in the same group being in the same pot.
After serving his one match ban for a scuffle with teammate Joe Gomez at the start of the week, Raheem Sterling is back in the starting XI tonight.
He’ll form part of the forward line with Harry Kane and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Sterling and Kane have combined for six England goals during this Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, with both players providing three assists for each other.
That’s an average goal combination once every 80 minutes played.
Since the defeat to the Czech Republic England have netted 13 goals, courtesy of 6-0 and 7-0 victories over Bulgaria and Montenegro.
Gareth Southgate’s men have scored 34 goals in just nine games this year. Only in two other years have England been more prolific. 1908 when they scored 39 goals and in 1966 with 38 goals.
The match kicks off in just over an hour. It will be only the second ever meeting between England and Kosovo.
The previous meeting coming earlier in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with England getting a 5-3 victory in September.
England have only lost one of their last 24 competitive away games, winning 16 and drawing seven. Their only defeat came against the Czech Republic last month.
The Three Lions have conceded in just nine games in this run, keeping a clean sheet on 15 occasions.
“If we had to pick our best team tomorrow, we’d be very clear on what that was.” said England manager Gareth Southgate.
That’s quite surprising, especially since it’s hard for anyone else to pick:
Team news
Gareth Southgate makes five changes to the starting XI that defeated Montenegro on Thursday night.
Nick Pope replaces Jordan Pickford in goal with Tyrone Mings coming in to partner Harry Maguire at centre-back, he replaces John Stones.
Declan Rice comes into the mid-field in place of Mason Mount and there are starting places for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Raheem Sterling.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho drop to the bench.
The Kosovans have welcome the English with open arms, with the United Kingdom’s role in concluding the battle with Serbian armed forces, the first step towards official independence, never forgotten.
It has been a fine welcome for the travelling England fans, and our man on the ground, Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, is taking it all in.
Job done.
England secured qualification for Euro 2020 with a game to spare, Montenegro crushed at Wembley on Thursday, and Gareth Southgate and his side officially on their way to next summer’s continental extravaganza.
But there is still this final Group A fixture to negotiate, with an impressive Kosovo team ready to take the game to England as they did in such fine fashion at Southampton in September. Kick-off in Pristina is not too far away…
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Kosovo vs England today.
Match preview:
When is it?
Kick-off at Fadil Vokrri Stadium is at 5pm GMT on November 17.
How can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 4.15pm.
The game can be watched online via the ITV Hub, or via the ITV Hub app.
Team News
Raheem Sterling is set to return to the England side for this game after being left out of Thursday’s clash with Montenegro in the wake of the Joe Gomez incident.
Gomez and Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson have both pulled out of the squad for this game, and Gareth Southgate may look to experiment, with qualification already secured and a number of fringe players pushing for starts.
Odds
- Kosovo 7/1
- Draw 4/1
- England 4/11
Prediction
Kosovo will be keen to take the game to England, just as they did in Southampton in September when they troubled Gareth Southgate’s side.
With both sides secure in their positions in Group A, it could be entertaining fare in Pristina. 3-2 to England is our prediction.
