Sunday’s briefing: Goal-hungry England hoping to complete clean sweep in Albania

England will bid to complete their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent record without conceding a goal in Albania, but head coach Thomas Tuchel insists records are not the main focus.

Scotland’s qualification hopes remain in tact despite a 3-2 defeat in their penultimate group match in Greece and Wales stayed on course to seal a play-off place after victory in Liechtenstein.

Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City beat derby rivals Manchester United to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Thomas Tuchel focused on keeping England hungry

Thomas Tuchel has not spoken to England’s players about any potential records they could set in Albania as his only focus is on the hunger to compete and kick on towards the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate’s successor began his reign with March’s 2-0 Wembley win against Albania and ends his first year in charge against the same opponents in Tirana on Sunday.

England could become the first European side to play at least six World Cup qualifiers and win them all without conceding, but that could not be further from Tuchel’s mind.

“We didn’t speak a single word about that,” he said at Air Albania Stadium on the eve of the game. “We made sure yesterday that we had the training session that we had. The quality and the mentality of the guys that didn’t play was on the highest level, which was a pure pleasure.

“It just showed me that we are going in the right way. Everyone is ready to play, everyone is ready to start. Competition is still on, the hunger is still on to be on the pitch tomorrow. That is the most important.”

World Cup qualification still up for grabs for Scotland

Scotland lost 3-2 in Greece but remain in the hunt for automatic qualification for the World Cup following an extraordinary night of action in Group C.

Steve Clarke’s side looked destined for the play-offs as they trailed 3-0 in a game which they went into knowing they almost certainly needed a draw.

Goals from Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie gave Scotland hope and they threatened an equaliser on several occasions.

It turned out they did not need one, though, to set up a Hampden decider with Denmark on Tuesday, which Scotland must win.

The Danes saw a one-goal lead over Belarus turned on its head in three second-half minutes and the Tartan Army celebrated a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen after an agonising wait of several minutes following the final whistle in Piraeus, on the outskirts of Athens.

Wales tee up crunch North Macedonia clash with win

Wales laboured to a 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James claimed his first Wales goal from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had held out for over an hour.

James wheeled away in delight with his obvious relief shared by 3,000 Wales fans filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Moments later, however, James was booked and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu sees both midfielders ruled out of Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia through suspension.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game Wales must win to overtake North Macedonia and secure a more favourable draw in the play-offs in March.

Lauren Hemp stunner seals Manchester City’s derby win

Lauren Hemp’s stunning strike on the stroke of half-time sealed a thumping 3-0 derby victory for Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Hemp crashed a long-range effort into the top corner to add to earlier efforts from Rebecca Knaak and Khadija Shaw, as Marc Skinner’s visitors were brought crashing back to earth after their midweek Champions league win over Paris St Germain.

Ella Toone and Melvine Malard made United more competitive after the break but the result was all but a formality as City cruised to a win that extends their lead at the top of the table to four points.

What’s on today?

England will bid to complete their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent record when they take on Albania in Tirana in a 5pm kick-off.

The Republic of Ireland take on Hungary in Budapest (2pm) in their final group match knowing only a victory will seal them a play-off place.

In the Women’s Super League, Chelsea aim to extend their unbeaten start to the season and close the gap on leaders Manchester City with victory at winless Liverpool.

The winners of the north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal will climb into the top three, while there are three other fixtures.