England defeated Andorra 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier, with an own goal and a Declan Rice header securing the win. While England dominated possession, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, highlighting a need for more clinical finishing. The victory maintains England’s perfect qualifying record, but improvements are needed for tougher challenges ahead.
England maintained their flawless start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a routine 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park. While the scoreline might not have reflected England's overwhelming dominance, the Three Lions secured a comfortable win to stay atop Group K.
The match began with England controlling possession but struggling to break down a resolute Andorra defense. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 25th minute, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Noni Madueke, making his case for more regular inclusion in the squad, delivered a teasing cross into the penalty area, which was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Andorra's Christian Garcia. The own goal provided England with a crucial lead, but the first half was largely characterized by a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Gareth Southgate's side emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, determined to translate their territorial advantage into more tangible rewards. With 83% possession, England spent the majority of the second half camped on the edge of the Andorra penalty box. Their pressure finally told in the 67th minute when Declan Rice rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Reece James. Rice's goal provided England with a two-goal cushion and effectively sealed the victory.
The match also saw Elliot Anderson make his senior debut for England, earning a starting berth in what was ultimately a frustrating game for the Newcastle United midfielder. While Anderson displayed glimpses of his talent, he was unable to make a significant impact on the scoreline. Shortly after coming on as a substitute, Anthony Gordon, Anderson's former Newcastle teammate, squandered a golden opportunity to extend England's lead, skewing a header off his shoulder and wide of the target.
Despite the victory, England's performance was far from perfect. While they dominated possession and territory, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a defensively organized Andorra side. The lack of clinical finishing will be a concern for Southgate as England prepare for sterner tests ahead. Nevertheless, the win ensured that England maintained their 100% record in Group K, ahead of their upcoming away match against Serbia next Tuesday. Andorra, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of the group, still searching for their first points of the qualifying campaign.
Another step closer to @FIFAWorldCup qualification pic.twitter.com/soaVCrzQAp
— England (@England) September 6, 2025
Data Debrief: England's Qualifying Fortress
England's victory over Andorra extended their impressive unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying matches to 35, with 27 wins and eight draws since their last defeat to Ukraine in October 2009. At home, their record is even more formidable, having not lost a qualifier in their last 31 matches, with 28 wins and three draws, dating back to a 1-0 loss against Germany at the old Wembley Stadium in October 2000.
The Three Lions have now won all eight of their encounters against Andorra without conceding a goal, equalling their record against San Marino. The only team they have faced more times while maintaining a perfect winning record is Luxembourg (9/9). This speaks volumes about England's consistency and ability to grind out results against weaker opposition.
Despite the vast gulf in quality between the two sides, highlighted by the 170 places separating them in the FIFA rankings (England fourth and Andorra 174th), England only managed seven shots on target, finishing the game with 2.21 expected goals (xG) compared to Andorra's 0.1. This suggests that England could have been more clinical in front of goal and that there is room for improvement in their attacking play.
Overall, the victory over Andorra was a satisfactory result for England, maintaining their perfect qualifying record and providing valuable match practice for several players. However, Southgate will be aware that his side needs to be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to achieve their ambitions at the World Cup in 2026. The upcoming match against Serbia will provide a sterner test of England's credentials, and they will need to be at their best to secure another victory.