Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala scored on his first England Under-21s start as they ended a successful European Championship qualifying campaign with a comfortable win.
Musiala, 17, is the youngest goalscorer in Bayern’s history and impressed, clipping in after a fine run.
Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring with a low shot and James Justin smashed in a second.
Eddie Nketiah, the U21s’ record scorer, scored twice and missed a penalty.
The Arsenal striker now has 16 goals in just 14 appearances at this level.
The 2021 finals will be held in Hungary and Slovenia, with the group stage played out in March and the finals at the start of June so as not to clash with the rescheduled Euro 2020.
England secured qualification on 13 October, with two games to spare, and complete their group having won nine and drawn the other of their 10 matches.
Albania could have qualified as one of the best runners-up but were never in the game, goalkeeper Marco Molla making a mess of Hudson-Odoi’s shot for the opener.
Leicester wing-back Justin fired in at the far post before Musiala, who played for Germany at under-16 level, played a one-two with Oliver Skipp and converted.
Molla, having an eventful night, then fumbled in Nketiah’s shot, fouled the striker only to save his penalty, and was beaten from long range shortly after by Nketiah for the fifth.
Line-ups
England U21
- 22Bursik
- 12Wilmot
- 4Godfrey
- 17Kelly
- 18Justin
- 16SkippSubstituted forDasilvaat 76′minutes
- 6Davies
- 14BuchananSubstituted forMcNeilat 76′minutes
- 23MusialaSubstituted forJonesat 61′minutes
- 10Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forGallagherat 61′minutes
- 9NketiahBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 2Lamptey
- 3Panzo
- 7Jones
- 8Gallagher
- 13Austin
- 20Dasilva
- 21McNeil
Albania U21
- 1Molla
- 22Marku
- 5Sota
- 3SelmaniBooked at 90mins
- 14MitajSubstituted forKrajaat 81′minutes
- 10TuciSubstituted forNdreckaat 45′minutes
- 16CokajBooked at 37mins
- 20MuciSubstituted forAdemiat 68′minutes
- 17DobraSubstituted forPellumbiat 68′minutes
- 9Bullari
- 19XhixhaSubstituted forMihanaat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Pellumbi
- 6Ndrecka
- 7Kolaj
- 8Mihana
- 11Ademi
- 12Harizaj
- 13Kraja
- 21Kalaj
- Referee:
- Alain Bieri
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, England U21 5, Albania U21 0.
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Second Half ends, England U21 5, Albania U21 0.
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Eddie Nketiah (England U21) is shown the yellow card.
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Adolf Selmani (Albania U21) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Eddie Nketiah (England U21).
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Eljon Sota (Albania U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Curtis Jones (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Godfrey.
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Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (England U21) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Curtis Jones.
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Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (England U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Davies.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Eljon Sota.
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Foul by James Justin (England U21).
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Enis Cokaj (Albania U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! England U21 5, Albania U21 0. Eddie Nketiah (England U21) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.
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Attempt missed. Ben Wilmot (England U21) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Dwight McNeil with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Erdis Kraja.
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Attempt blocked. Ben Godfrey (England U21) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Dwight McNeil with a cross.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Eljon Sota.
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Attempt missed. Redon Mihana (Albania U21) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Enis Cokaj.
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Substitution, Albania U21. Erdis Kraja replaces Mario Mitaj.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Adolf Selmani.
