Key stats
- Andorra have lost their last seven games in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, their last joint longest losing streak was from 31st August 2017 to 31st March 2021.
- England attempted 11 shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the 2026 UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
- England have won their last six games in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, their last longer winning streak was from 1st September 2017 to 5th September 2021, a run of nine games.
Highlights
Analysis
Chelsea defener Reece James looked commanding at the back and scored the highest Flashscore rating of the match (8.7), winning five out of six duels.
Match report
Thomas Tuchel’s men had to be patient when these sides met in June, and that was also the case at Villa Park with Andorra deploying every tactic to keep the hosts out.
Even so, debutant Elliot Anderson dictated play and Noni Madueke showed intent, and the pair linked up to tee up Eberechi Eze for a shot that was saved before Madueke saw a strike of his own blocked by Éric Vales.
Eze then had his attempt denied by a last-ditch Max Llovera intervention before a threatening Reece James cross agonisingly evaded Harry Kane and Madueke.
England didn’t have to wait too much longer for an opener, though, as Madueke’s cross took a flick off Christian García’s head on its way past Iker Álvarez in the 25th minute.
Despite going behind, the Tricolors remained compact and García reached Declan Rice’s inviting corner ahead of Kane, who headed over shortly after.
Madueke created another chance five minutes after the restart that resulted in Álvarez saving Eze’s attempt, before Marcus Rashford disappointingly sent his strike wide.
The Andorran goalkeeper then made a brilliant save to deny Anderson a debut goal and atone for his own lax pass. Ian Olivera fired over at the other end as Andorra showed some extra attacking intent without troubling Jordan Pickford. However, they were left helpless by a pinpoint James cross in the 67th minute that Declan Rice headed home.
Tuchel made a flurry of substitutions after the second goal, but Morgan Gibbs-White’s attempt from Madueke’s cross was routinely held by Álvarez.
England still comfortably extended their perfect record in WCQ to its fourth match ahead of their meeting with Serbia, who are currently the Three Lions’ closest competitors in the group. Rooted to the bottom of the table, Andorra suffered the 60th WCQ defeat in their history.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Elliot Anderson (England)
Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.
Post-match reaction
England manager Thomas Tuchel told ITV: "It's a very different crowd to a Premier League crowd. I think we would have get the crowd going but it's very different and we know it.
"The energy was right, the quality was there, we should have scored more.
"After the first goal we had 10-15 minutes with too many ball losses. We lost a bit of focus and concentration but in the second half we found it again, created a lot of chances and should have scored more."
England striker Noni Madueke said to ITV: "First and foremost, it is good to get the win and a clean sheet. Of course, we knew what type of game it wad going to be.
"Sometimes it was frustrating. It is about getting the goals. The team won, so I am happy.
"He (Thomas Tuchel) wants us to be direct. That was a great example of it (England's second goal). Reece (James) is top quality, and it was a great cross and a great finish from Dec (Rice)."
Meanwhile Flashscore's Man of the Match Elliot Anderson added: "It was good out there and I enjoyed it. We knew they would be hard to break down. I should have scored, but next time hopefully."