The Daily Star Ireland
England extended their perfect start in Group K with a 1-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday, though the performance drew criticism from fans who expressed their dissatisfaction with audible boos. The match, played in the sweltering heat of Barcelona, marked head coach Thomas Tuchel’s first away outing since taking charge of the national team, but it proved to be a frustrating and forgettable display.
The decisive moment arrived early in the second half when captain Harry Kane managed to convert after a chaotic sequence in front of goal. His close-range finish, which followed a saved effort and a rebound provided by Noni Madueke, marked the 450th goal of his career across club and international competition.
Dominance Without Sharpness
England controlled possession for most of the match, as expected against an Andorran side ranked 173rd in the world. Despite the disparity in quality on paper, the Premier League-laden English squad struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their passing lacked urgency, and there was a general absence of attacking fluidity throughout the encounter.
The most notable contribution came from Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who was a rare bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming team performance. Madueke tested goalkeeper Iker Alvarez with a curling effort and created several opportunities for teammates in the first half, including one for Jude Bellingham, who failed to convert.
Harry Kane also had an opportunity to score before the break, but he fired wide from close range after Madueke delivered a dangerous ball across the area. The breakthrough finally came five minutes into the second half, when Kane capitalized on a second chance after his initial attempt was parried. Madueke played a key role in recycling the ball, allowing the captain to finish from close range.
Room for Improvement Despite Perfect Record
England now sit comfortably at the top of their qualifying group with nine points from three matches. However, the performance against Andorra raised questions about the team’s sharpness and creativity in the final third. Despite securing the result, the match failed to meet expectations for a side widely tipped to be among the contenders at next year’s World Cup.
Tuchel, who recently took over managerial duties, faces the task of refining England’s tactical execution before facing more formidable opposition. While the team maintained a clean sheet and extended their perfect record against Andorra—having previously scored 25 goals in six encounters without conceding—the lack of a convincing attacking display was evident.
Andorra, for their part, displayed resilience and even managed to create a couple of scoring opportunities, highlighting England’s vulnerability on the break. Though they never seriously threatened to overturn the result, their efforts underscored the narrow margin of the win.
Speaking after the match, Kane acknowledged the team’s below-par performance and pointed to the dry playing surface as a factor, noting that similar conditions might be encountered at the World Cup. He emphasized the importance of learning from the outing and focusing on the positives, namely the three points earned.
