Match No. 783 - Wednesday, 5th September 2001, 8:00pm
Assist: Paul Scholes. "Nevertheless a goal from Owen remained one of the night's safer predictions, the only surprise being that it took him until the 44th minute to score. Just when Albania looked like frustrating England at least until half-time they were undone by a combination of Scholes's vision and Owen's acceleration. The defence had dealt easily enough with a free-kick from Beckham but were then caught un awares by a beautifully timed forward chip from Scholes. As Owen sprinted through to meet it, Murati, pushing up too late, kept him onside. A short, sharp volley past Foto Strakosha and St James' Park roared, then relaxed." Michael Owen14th of 40 goals. Right-footed from 9 yards., 44' 43:00 - Assist: Jamie Carragher. "But Fowler eased England's worries with a brilliant second with three minutes left, escaping the Albania rearguard before delivering a delicate chip over Strakosha." Robbie Fowler5th of 7 goals. Right-footed from 15 yards., 88' 87:24
- 1
- David SeamanArsenal, 67th of 75 caps
37 years, 11 month, 16 days
Goalkeeper
- 2
- Gary NevilleMan Utd, 47th of 85 caps
26 years, 6 months, 15 days
Right Back
- 3
- Ashley ColeArsenal, 6th of 107 caps
20 years, 8 months, 16 days
Left Back
- 4
- Steven GerrardLiverpool, 7th of 114 caps
21 years, 3 months, 6 days
Midfield 
45:00 Late tackle on Bellaj. 
83'82:46
- 5
- Rio FerdinandLeeds, 17th of 81 caps
22 years, 9 months, 28 days
Centre Back
- 6
- Sol CampbellArsenal, 42nd of 73 caps
26 years, 11 month, 17 days
Centre Back
- 7
- David BeckhamMan Utd, 45th of 115 caps
26 years, 4 months, 3 days
Right Midfield (c)9th captaincy
- 8
- Paul ScholesMan Utd, 38th of 66 caps
26 years, 9 months, 19 days
Midfield
- 9
- Emile HeskeyLiverpool, 18th of 62 caps
23 years, 7 months, 25 days
Centre Forward - 55'54:03
- 10
- Michael OwenLiverpool, 32nd of 89 caps
21 years, 8 months, 22 days
Centre Forward
- 11
- Nicky BarmbyLiverpool, 22nd of 23 caps
27 years, 6 months, 22 days
Left Midfield - 64'63:44
- 17
- Robbie FowlerLiverpool, 20th of 26 caps
26 years, 4 months, 26 days
Centre Forward 
55'54:03
- 16
- Steve McManamanReal Madrid, 36th of 37 caps
29 years, 6 months, 23 days
Left Midfield - 64'63:44
- 14
- Jamie CarragherLiverpool, 6th of 38 caps
23 years, 7 months, 8 days
Defensive Midfielder - 83'82:46
- 1
- Foto StrakoshaFotaq Strakosha.
Born 29th Mar 1965, Memaliaj, Albania.
(c)
- 2
- Nevil DedeNevil Thanas Dede.
Born 10th Jan 1975, Tirana, Albania.
- 3
- Geri ÇipiGeri Çipi.
Born 28th Feb 1976, Vlorë, Albania.
- 4
- Arjan XhumbaArjan Xhumba.
Date of birth unknown, Gjirokastër, Albania.
- 5
- Ervin FakajErvin Pëllumb Fakaj.
Born 15th Jun 1976, Vlorë, Albania.
- 6
- Besnik HasiBesnik Hasi.
Born 29th Dec 1971, Gjakova, SFR Yugoslavia.
41:36 Not retreating from an England free kick after Beckham had been fouled. - HT
- 7
- Edvin MuratiEdvin Murati.
Born 12th Nov 1975, Tirana, Albania.
34:16 Persistant fouling.
- 8
- Arjan BellajArjan Bellaj.
Born 1st Feb 1971, Gjirokastër, Albania.
- 9
- Fatmir VataFatmir Vata.
Born 20th Sep 1971, Rrëshen, Albania.
- 10
- Altin RraklliAltin Rraklli.
Born 17th Jul 1970, Kavajë, Albania.
- 63'62:11
- 11
- Erjon BogdaniErjon Bogdani.
Born 14th Apr 1977, Tirana, Albania.
- 56'55:55
- 18
- Alban BushiAlban Bushi.
Born 20th Aug 1973, Tirana, Albania.
- HT
- 17
- Igli TareIgli Tare.
Born 25th Jul 1973, Vlorë, Albania.
- 56'55:55
- 14
- Devi MukaDevis Mukaj.
Born 21st Dec 1976, Vlorë, Albania.
- 63'62:11
Sources
- englandstats.com Digital Archive
- BBC Football "England edge out Albania", Wednesday 5th September 2001.
- The Guardian "Fowler ices England's cake", Thursday 6th September 2001.
Referee
Spain Juan Antonio Fernández Marín
ELO Ratings
No change in rank, gaining 2 ranking points to 1951 points England - 7th
Albania - 86th
World Cup 2002 Q
(Group 9)
- England
- 17
- +10
- 1
- 2
- 5
- 8
- Germany
- 17
- +4
- 1
- 2
- 5
- 8
- Finland
- 12
- +5
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 8
- Greece
- 7
- -10
- 5
- 1
- 2
- 8
- Albania
- 3
- -9
- 7
- 0
- 1
- 8
