Harry Kane came to England’s rescue with a second-half finish that secured a narrow 1-0 win against lowly Andorra in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, sparing Thomas Tuchel’s side from potential humiliation at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
Despite the victory, England’s display was far from convincing. The Three Lions were met with boos from their own supporters after an uninspired performance against a side ranked 173rd in the world.
Kane’s goal, his 72nd for England — ensured the team avoided what would have been a deeply embarrassing result. It also continued a personal milestone for the Bayern Munich forward, bringing his total to 450 career goals in 697 appearances for club and country.
The win also saw Tuchel make history, becoming the first England manager to win his first three competitive games without conceding. But with those results coming against Andorra, Latvia, and Albania in Group K, the feat feels less impressive. That achievement rings a little hollow after this miserable display.
Tuchel had downplayed expectations beforehand, warning fans not to expect a goal fest against Andorra following his players’ exhausting club seasons. “England’s tired stars should not be expected to thrash Andorra,” he had cautioned.
The German boss also pointed to the challenges of maintaining player motivation during the summer international window, especially as nine of his squad are soon heading to the Club World Cup in the United States.
His warnings proved accurate. The match had the sluggish tempo of a pre-season game, far removed from the recent spectacle between Spain and France in the Nations League semi-final. It underscored the scale of the task Tuchel faces in preparing England for the 2026 World Cup.
Adding to the disjointed display was Tuchel’s decision to experiment with his lineup. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones was deployed at right-back, while Chelsea’s Reece James was switched to the opposite flank.
With Declan Rice rested, 34-year-old Jordan Henderson earned his first England start since 2023, becoming the team’s oldest player since Frank Lampard over a decade ago.
Bukayo Saka was also omitted, having managed only one training session during the week. In his absence, the creative burden fell to Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer, who supported Kane in the attack.
Madueke provided rare sparks of quality, but Palmer and Rogers struggled to make an impression. “Bereft of ideas,” England found it difficult to break down an Andorra side content to sit deep with nine men behind the ball.
Madueke tested goalkeeper Iker Alvarez with a low drive, while Kane squandered a clear chance from a Jones cut-back.
Andorra, goalless in over two years, offered little threat, though Biel Borra’s speculative effort at least marked an improvement on their shotless outing against Albania in March.
Playing in the summer heat of Catalonia was meant to simulate World Cup conditions in North America, but England looked off the pace.
Their sluggish build-up resulted in speculative long-range shots, including a tame 25-yard attempt from Jude Bellingham, which Alvarez comfortably handled.
As the first half ended with Bellingham’s header failing to trouble Alvarez, the mood in the stadium turned restless. “England looked bereft of ideas and the fans were beginning to grumble.”
Relief finally arrived five minutes into the second half. After Kane’s initial shot was saved, Madueke reacted quickly to send a low cross back across goal, where Kane tapped in unmarked. Kane eased the mounting pressure.
Despite taking the lead, England remained flat and lacked urgency. In the dying moments, they nearly paid the price when Guillaume Lopez’s effort was blocked by Ezri Konsa.
England took the win, but it was a reminder that much work lies ahead if Tuchel’s men are to seriously challenge on the world stage.
