England overcome stubborn Andorra
Andorra 0 - 1 England
Harry Kane’s close-range finish was enough to hand England a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra and extend their unbeaten start to 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Author | George B
Stadium | RCDE Stadium
Before the match, manager Thomas Tuchel had warned fans it might take time to break down a stubborn Andorra side, and that caution proved justified. England were booed off at half-time after failing to score against a team ranked 173rd in the world.
The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half. Bayern Munich striker Kane reacted quickest when Curtis Jones' shot was parried, with Noni Madueke pouncing on the rebound and cutting the ball back for the England captain to convert from close range.
Tuchel had opted for an adventurous line-up, with Liverpool’s Jones deployed at right-back and Reece James switching to the left. Despite dominating possession, England struggled to carve out meaningful chances.
Jude Bellingham and Madueke were both denied by Iker Alvarez from distance, while substitute Eberechi Eze saw a late header tipped over the bar.
Though the performance was far from convincing, the result keeps England top of Group K with three wins from three. They return to action on Tuesday against Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
The manager and fans will want more from this England side
Many supporters are likely to feel underwhelmed by England’s performance, particularly given the expectation of a more emphatic victory over the group’s lowest-ranked side.
READ MORE | A closer look at the career of Harry Kane
Despite dominating possession with 82.9% and registering 10 shots before the break, the Three Lions rarely troubled Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez.
With an abundance of attacking talent at his disposal, Thomas Tuchel will be left reflecting on how best to unlock deep, disciplined defences as the qualification campaign progresses. This display raises questions about England’s creativity and cutting edge in matches where opponents sit back and frustrate.
