England defeated Andorra with a goal from Declan Rice, continuing their unblemished World Cup qualifying campaign. Although the performance was not spectacular, it was sufficient to secure the win and keep England on course. Attention now shifts to a more difficult match against Serbia.
England maintained their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying with a straightforward victory over Andorra at Villa Park. Declan Rice's header secured the win in a match that, while not particularly inspiring, ensured England remain firmly on track for the 2026 World Cup.
Manager Thomas Tuchel had called for greater aggression and penetration from his side, but against an Andorra team content to sit deep and defend, England found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. The game largely felt like a formality, a contractual obligation to be fulfilled before attention turns to more challenging fixtures.
The first half was a story of England probing and Andorra stubbornly resisting. Noni Madueke, keen to impress in the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka, was a lively presence on the right wing, and it was his cross that led to the opening goal. Under pressure from Rice, Andorra defender Christian García inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, giving England a deserved lead.
Andorra, as expected, offered little in the way of attacking threat. Their game plan revolved around maintaining a compact defensive shape and frustrating England's attempts to break them down. The statistics showed that Andorra only touched the ball four times inside England's area, highlighting their limited ambition.
England continued to press in the second half, and their pressure eventually paid off. Reece James, who was a constant threat down the right flank, delivered a pinpoint cross for Rice, who rose highest to head the ball past the helpless goalkeeper.
While the victory was comfortable, England's performance lacked spark. The tempo was often slow, and there was a tendency to play sideways passes rather than penetrate the Andorra defense. Nevertheless, Tuchel will be pleased to have secured another three points and maintained their perfect defensive record.
With the game against Andorra out of the way, England can now fully focus on their upcoming match against Serbia in Belgrade. That promises to be a far sterner test, and one that will provide a much clearer indication of England's progress under Tuchel.
For Andorra, the match was another exercise in damage limitation. They defended resolutely, but their lack of attacking ambition meant they never posed a threat to England's goal. Their manager, Koldo Álvarez, has been in charge for 15 years, and his pragmatic approach has at least made Andorra difficult to beat, if not particularly exciting to watch.
England's win over Andorra was ultimately a means to an end. It was a necessary step on the road to the 2026 World Cup, but it is the challenges that lie ahead that will truly define this team's potential.